Church of the Assumption, Zbrosławice

The Church of the Assumption in Zbrosławice near Tarnowskie Góry is a Gothic-baroque church from the 15th century and the Sanctuary of the Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary. At its heart is a 43-centimetre wooden figure of the Virgin and Child with a story worthy of a novel: it lay buried in an Austrian convent for more than 130 years, until a princess guided by dreams dug it up.

History: five centuries of rebuilding

The church is first mentioned in 1447 (sources differ: 1447 or 1448). Its oldest Gothic part – today's chancel – probably dates from the first half of the 15th century. In 1610–1620 a nave was added, funded by Georg Larisch. For a few years, until 1629, the church was in Protestant hands; an imperial decree of 16 March 1629 restored Catholic worship, and Adam Barankowitz became the first Catholic parish priest. Until 1737 the church was dedicated to All Saints. In 1774–1777 master builder Christoph Worbs remodelled it, and after a roof fire in 1909 it was rebuilt and extended with annexes.

A plan that failed

After the 1909 fire, parish priest Florian Sobotta wanted to lengthen the church by 12 m so that it could hold 1,145 worshippers, and raise the bell tower to 30 m. The design by Maksymilian Sliwka of Zabrze would have cost around 42,400 marks and was not backed by the church's patron, Baildon. That is why the church has kept its historic scale.

The figure of Our Lady of Zbrosławice

The carving is dated to around 1575. It was hidden from Swedish troops in the Dominican convent at Imbach in Austria. In 1707 Princess Maria Petronella von Darmstadt, née Stockmans, dug it up herself in the sacristy after recurring dreams. The figure reached Zbrosławice with the Stockmans family – sources differ as to whether this happened in 1707 or by inheritance in 1799. It stood in their burial chapel, was moved into the church in 1828, to the high altar in 1944, and on 8 August 1954 was placed on a gilded throne at the top of the altar. The faithful come here above all to pray for the gift of motherhood.

What to see

• The free-standing bell tower of 1564, restored in 1893 and raised in 1909.
• The neo-Gothic Stockmans burial chapel of 1827 by the churchyard wall.
• Late baroque furnishings from the second half of the 18th century and Renaissance tomb slabs from the first half of the 17th century.
• The 1917 organ by Paul Berschdorf of Nysa: 14 stops, two manuals and pedal.

Tripto tips

The church stands on a rise at ul. Kościelna 6 in Zbrosławice – a separate municipality in Tarnowskie Góry County, a few kilometres from Tarnowskie Góry. The feast of Our Lady of Zbrosławice falls on Whit Monday, and the parish feast on 15 August – these days draw the most pilgrims. Allow about 45 minutes for the interior, the bell tower and the chapel; visit outside Mass times.