Kościół pw. Narodzenia Najświętszej Maryi Panny (ul. Księdza Jerzego Popiełuszki)
Churches of Kraków
Church (Roman Catholic), Bieżanów-Prokocim district. Date according to Wikidata: 17th century. A listed monument (heritage register).
History
At 35 Księdza Jerzego Popiełuszki Street in Bieżanów stand two churches dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: the older one, now a chapel of ease, and the newer parish church. The Bieżanów parish, which included the villages of Bieżanów and Kaim, was established on 4 October 1422, and construction of a wooden church began at that time. In 1636, after the earlier building was destroyed by fire, a stone church was built here. It was funded by the archdeacon of Kraków Cathedral, Fr Jan Fox, secretary to King Sigismund III Vasa, who left his entire estate to this cause in his will. Originally there were three altars in the chancel and no tower. The church was consecrated on 3 September 1671 by the auxiliary bishop of Kraków, Mikołaj Oborski.
In 1881-1889, to a design by the architect Karol Knaus, two side chapels and a 27-metre neo-Gothic tower with a clock and bells were added. During the First World War the Austrians took the tower down to the level of the church's gable, and when the front reached Kraków and the Russians took up positions on the Bogucice - Kaim hills, Austrian shells destroyed the roof and what was left of the tower. After the war Fr M. Jacaszek repaired the roof and covered it with tiles, and raised the tower to the height of the former clock and topped it with a spire.
By the mid-20th century the old church was too small for the fast-growing parish. The new parish priest, Fr Antoni Sołtysik, decided in 1975 to build a second church; because of the policy of the communist authorities, it was at first presented as an extension of the existing church. The design was prepared by the architect Przemysław Gawor. The interior was finished in 1987-1988 (the wooden ceiling panelling and the floor), in 1993 the church received an organ, and in 2001-2002 a new altar with sculptures of Polish saints on both sides, the work of Edward Osiecki to a design by Bogusław Kulka. Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz solemnly consecrated the new church on 17 October 2009.
Did you know?
The two churches are only a metre apart, so from a distance it is easy to mistake them for a single building. They have the same dedication and the same address.