Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Szczawno-Zdrój

The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Szczawno-Zdrój is a Roman Catholic parish church belonging to the Wałbrzych (west) deanery of the Diocese of Świdnica.

Construction and consecration

The cornerstone for the church's construction was laid on 15 September 1936. A year later, on 2 July 1937, the ceremony of blessing the bell and hanging it in the tower took place, and on 11 July 1937 the church was consecrated under the dedication of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. After its consecration, the church served as a filial church of the parish of St Anne in Szczawienko, and an independent parish in Szczawno-Zdrój was established only after the Second World War, in 1945, by Polish Catholics. In 2003 an extension of the church was completed, during which the building's structure was lengthened by more than ten metres.

A mosaic in the chancel

The interior of the church is filled with a mosaic covering the entire chancel, from base to vault. It depicts Our Lady of the Assumption being crowned by the Holy Trinity, and is the largest mosaic in Lower Silesia.

A memento from Polish spa visitors

The church holds valuable Polish artefacts, among them a chalice from 1864, engraved on its base with the inscription "Ofiara Polaków 1864 rok" (A gift from Poles, 1864). It recalls the Poles who came to Szczawno-Zdrój for rest and treatment.

Nearby

Not far from the church lies the Henryk Wieniawski Spa Park in Szczawno-Zdrój, and further afield, among others, Książ Castle and the Stara Kopalnia Centre for Science and Art.

Practical information

• Location: Szczawno-Zdrój, Wałbrzych County.
• The church belongs to the Wałbrzych (west) deanery of the Diocese of Świdnica.
• Mass times and the possibility of visiting are worth checking directly with the parish before your visit.