Church of St Lawrence in Dąbrowa

On a rise in Dąbrowa, about 11 km west of Opole on the edge of the Niemodlin Forest, stands the Church of St Lawrence, partly ringed by old lime trees. The parish is one of the oldest documented in Upper Silesia: the local priest – "Nicolaus plebanus in Dambrova" – is named in sources from 1305, and the church already appears in a register of endowments from 1303–1306. The present late Renaissance church dates from the early 17th century and stands next to a Renaissance castle of the same period.

History: seven centuries in the records

The dedication to St Lawrence suggests that the first church probably stood here as early as the first half of the 13th century. The Ujazd Register (Registrum Vyasdense), a list of the Wrocław diocese's endowments compiled in 1303–1306 under Bishop Henryk of Wierzbna, records that the church in Dąbrowa received income from 12 łan (hides) of land in the village of Skarbiszów. Dąbrowa also appears in a register of tithe debtors compiled in 1335–1342 by Galhard de Carceribus and in the Peter's Pence register of 1447. The present church was built in the early 17th century, keeping parts of the earlier building – its proportions and the buttresses of nave and chancel give this away. Alterations followed in 1822 and 1852, a renovation in 1948, and on 24 February 1959 the church was entered in the heritage register.

What to see

• The sundial on the south wall of the nave with the dates 1822, 1852 and 1948 – a record of the repairs written on the wall.
• The three-storey tower with an octagonal cupola and lantern, holding a 16th-century bell.
• A relief of the Crucifixion from the early 17th century above the chapel arch, and the chapel dome with stucco ribbons and shells.
• The Rococo pulpit from the second half of the 18th century with scenes of Moses and St John the Baptist preaching and allegories of Faith, Hope and Charity.
• Neoclassical altars from the early 19th century – the high altar with figures of Saints Peter and Paul.
• A late Renaissance tomb slab from the first half of the 17th century with heraldic cartouches on the outer chancel wall.

Did you know?

In 2005 the parish began celebrating its 700th anniversary. According to the parish newsletter, the earliest mention dates from 16 July 1305, when the then parish priest Mikołaj appeared in Wrocław as a witness in a case concerning patronage rights over the church in Psie Pole. Right next door stands a castle from 1615–1617, founded by Joachim von Tschetschau-Mettich; in 1894–1897 it was remodelled by the Hochbergs, Princes of Pless, who gave it its present form. Together the church and castle form the historic centre of the village, which is today the seat of the Dąbrowa municipality.

Tripto tips

The church is a working parish church and is mainly open during services – outside those times you can see the building, the sundial and the tomb slab from outside. Half an hour is enough for the church, about an hour with the castle and park. Dąbrowa lies on the Opole–Wrocław railway line, with Dąbrowa Niemodlińska station, so you can also get here by train.