St Anne's Church in Krynki

The two slender towers of St Anne's Church can be seen from afar above Krynki, a small town near the Belarusian border. The brick neo-Gothic church was built in 1907–1912, but the parish has five centuries of history behind it – it goes back to a foundation by King Sigismund I the Old in 1521–1522. Inside, Baroque furnishings brought over from the earlier wooden church have survived.

History: five centuries of a parish

According to a parish priest's report of 1849, King Sigismund I founded the first wooden church of St Anne in 1521, and it was built in 1522. In 1659 passing Russian troops plundered the church, burned the rectory, took the bells and dug up a chest of liturgical vessels and documents buried inside. The next wooden church was consecrated on 4 July 1674. In the 19th century it fell into such disrepair that it was sealed in 1817; after part of the old structure was taken down, it was rebuilt in 1841–1844 with two towers.

The present brick church was built in 1907–1912 on the site of the wooden one in the Vistula-Baltic neo-Gothic style. The design is attributed to Stefan Szyller (some sources name Tadeusz Markiewicz), and construction was overseen by the parish priest Ludwik Bałoban. The church was blessed on 30 November 1912, furnishings were completed by 1928, and on 15 May 1928 Archbishop Romuald Jałbrzykowski consecrated it.

What to see

Outside, the eye is drawn to the two slender towers, brick façades and tall, narrow windows. The interior combines neo-Gothic architecture with Baroque furnishings from the 17th and 18th centuries, partly from the demolished wooden church. Look out for the three oak altars, the colourful stained glass and the 15-stop organ.

Did you know?

Krynki has an unusual town plan: it resembles a star, with 12 straight streets radiating from the corners of a hexagonal market square. According to the municipality, the town's history goes back to the 15th century and a Lithuanian manor on the route from Vilnius to Kraków, and its name refers to the many springs (krynice) in the area.

Tripto tips

The church is at ul. Nowa 1. It is an active parish church, so visit the interior outside Mass times. Allow about an hour for the church and a short walk around the star-shaped market square.