Ko?ció? pod wezwaniem Narodzenia Naj?wi?tszej Marii Panny w Centawie
Centowa
A Medieval church built at the turn of the 16th century. It was funded by Magdalena Centawska, a gentlewoman, and built of breakstone.
The church’s tower is topped with the original crown enclosing three bells made of bronze. Another small tower is situated above the chancel. Inside the church one can find an original Renaissance polychrome panel ceiling over the nave and the chancel. It is painted with natural paint and is one of the few ceilings of this type which have survived until the present day. The polychrome decoration date back to 1586 and are the only Silesian example of church ceiling decoration typical for the second half of the 16th century. In 1872 the church was closed because of the danger of collapsing. Local people could not bear the thought of their church tumbling down and thoroughly renovated the building between 1886 and 1888. They covered the roof with tiles, added an entry to the choir, and expanded the entire structure. They also removed the coat of plaster, enlarged the windows, changed the semicircular arch into a pointed one, and created new windows in the northern aisle. Also added were the sacristy and a small room. New organs were brought from Nysa. In the course of its tumultuous history, the church was severely damaged to be rebuilt only in the 19th century because of considerable danger of collapsing. It is due to that 19th century intervention that the church looks slightly untypical today. A new high roof was added and the coat of plaster removed. The altar in the nave is decorated with a painting depicting the birth of Virgin Mary. There are also two statues – of St. Jadwiga and St. Urban. Unfortunately, original altars did not survive and new ones were made around 1950. The paintings are by ?ukasz Mrzyg?oda. Other paintings in the church depict the Stations of the Cross and date back to the 19th century. The church also has a crypt. It is assumed that the founder of the church is buried there together with other noblemen and magnates. After research carried out in the area in 1922, the president of the Silesian Geologist Association wrote: “in the church crypt in Centawa there is a beautiful copper coffin from the 17th century. It contains the remains of Baroness Dorothea-Barbara Larisch von Sleiwic (b. 8.03.1665 d. 13.09.1689)”
Powsta?ców ?l.
13
Centowa
Car, Bus, Bike