Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

About

The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Polish: Kościół Podwyższenia Krzyża Świętego) is a Roman Catholic parish church in Goworowo, Poland. It belongs to the Różan Deanery of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Łomża and serves as the main church of the Parish of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

In the 13th century, Goworowo became part of the estates of the provost of Płock Cathedral, the so-called Sieluń Principality. One of them, later Bishop of Płock Florian of Kościelec, erected a parish in Goworowo in 1317 as the first parish in what is now Ostrołęka County.

At that time, the first church was also built, initially dedicated to the Finding of the Holy Cross. In a later period, the dedication was changed to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. In 1556, an altar dedicated to Saint Anne was established in the church. In 1665, an altar of the Guardian Angels was founded. In 1609, the church was mentioned as old and in need of major renovation.

On 11 November 1693, a new wooden church was consecrated in Goworowo by Bishop of Płock Andrzej Chryzostom Załuski. According to an inventory from 1763, the church was 29.5 metres long and 15 metres wide. It was covered with shingles and crowned with a small dome and a roof turret.

In 1695, a masonry chapel of Saint Francis was added, funded by Marianna Brzezińska née Radzimińska, widow of the wojski of Nur, Florian Brzeziński. The chapel had a pentagonal closure and a rib vault. Franciszek Maksymilian Sobieszczański described the chapel in the Orgelbrand's Universal Encyclopedia as architecturally unremarkable but praised the craftsmanship and antiquity of its altar:

The columns of this altar, twisted from two separate cylinders leaving empty spaces between them and interwoven with plant branches, are as remarkable in concept as they are skilful in execution. Above them, on one side, a figure of Adam under a tree, and on the other, Eve beneath a similar tree. On the sides of these columns stand figures of Jesus Christ and Saint Florian.

— Franciszek Maksymilian Sobieszczański, Encyklopedia Orgelbranda, vol. X

At the top of the altar was a depiction of the Immaculate Conception, while the central part showed scenes from the life of Saint Francis.

On 7 December 1695, Karol Zieliński, podstoli of Różan, son of the castellan of Sierpc Ludwik Zieliński, together with his wife Anna Suchcicka, daughter of Polichron Suchcicki, the huntmaster of Łomża, founded the Altar of the Most Holy Rosary. In 1711, Seweryn Skłodowski, heir of Rząśnik and Ponikiew Duża, ordered to be buried under the threshold of the main church door, where, as he stated in his will, the altar of his ancestors stood. According to Sobieszczański, at the entrance to the church lay a cracked stone slab bearing a faint relief of a knight leaning on a sword, next to whom knelt a young man with hands folded in prayer, most likely referring to Skłodowski's tombstone.

According to the 1763 inventory, the main altar contained a Crucifixion painting, with Saint Cunegund beneath it. The church had six side altars: of the Rosary, the Assumption of Mary, the Guardian Angels, Saint Anthony, the Holy Cross, and Saint Anne. The church was dismantled in early 1777. During the construction of the new church, services were held in the Chapel of Saint Francis.

The third church, still wooden and thatched, was completed in 1780. It was consecrated only on 20 June 1830 by Auxiliary Bishop of Płock Wawrzyniec Gutowski. The church measured 28 metres in length, 15 metres in width, and 9.2 metres in height. It was built so that the Chapel of Saint Francis was located behind the presbytery.

In the main altar there was an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, while the side altars were dedicated to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the Holy Rosary, as recorded during the deanery visitation of 1852. In 1872, a masonry bell tower was erected next to the church, which survives to this day.

On 17 June 1880, a fire broke out in the church caused by a left candle. The church burned down together with all its furnishings.

In the 13th century, Goworowo became part of the estates of the provost of Płock Cathedral, the so-called Sieluń Principality. One of them, later Bishop of Płock Florian of Kościelec, erected a parish in Goworowo in 1317 as the first parish in what is now Ostrołęka County.

At that time, the first church was also built, initially dedicated to the Finding of the Holy Cross. In a later period, the dedication was changed to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. In 1556, an altar dedicated to Saint Anne was established in the church. In 1665, an altar of the Guardian Angels was founded. In 1609, the church was mentioned as old and in need of major renovation.

On 11 November 1693, a new wooden church was consecrated in Goworowo by Bishop of Płock Andrzej Chryzostom Załuski. According to an inventory from 1763, the church was 29.5 metres long and 15 metres wide. It was covered with shingles and crowned with a small dome and a roof turret.

In 1695, a masonry chapel of Saint Francis was added, funded by Marianna Brzezińska née Radzimińska, widow of the wojski of Nur, Florian Brzeziński. The chapel had a pentagonal closure and a rib vault. Franciszek Maksymilian Sobieszczański described the chapel in the Orgelbrand's Universal Encyclopedia as architecturally unremarkable but praised the craftsmanship and antiquity of its altar:

The columns of this altar, twisted from two separate cylinders leaving empty spaces between them and interwoven with plant branches, are as remarkable in concept as they are skilful in execution. Above them, on one side, a figure of Adam under a tree, and on the other, Eve beneath a similar tree. On the sides of these columns stand figures of Jesus Christ and Saint Florian.

— Franciszek Maksymilian Sobieszczański, Encyklopedia Orgelbranda, vol. X

At the top of the altar was a depiction of the Immaculate Conception, while the central part showed scenes from the life of Saint Francis.