Kościół pw.Świętego Wita

Hidden within Karczew, the Kościoł pw. Świętego Wita stands as a testament to time. Did you know that its story intertwines with a royal visit and a devastating fire? Let’s step back to 1704. Swedish King Charles XII and Stanisław Leszczyński graced Karczew with their presence, likely passing by the very spot where the church now stands. The Kościoł pw. Świętego Wita wasn’t always the structure we see today. Originally a wooden church built by the Karczewski family in the 15th century, it bore the names of both St. Vitus and St. Bartholomew. A stone chapel, the Karczewski Chapel, was added around 1541. Fire ravaged the town and the church in 1577, but from the ashes rose a new wooden structure around 1603. This church wasn’t consecrated until 1667. The Kościoł pw. Świętego Wita as we know it began to take shape between 1728 and 1732. Franciszek Bieliński, Grand Marshal of the Crown, funded the construction of a brick church, incorporating the existing Karczewski Chapel. This blend of old and new adds a unique layer to the church’s narrative. Consecrated in 1733 by Bishop Andrzej Stanisław Załuski, the Kościoł pw. Świętego Wita has seen its share of transformations. Around 1740, a symmetrical chapel was added, giving the building a cruciform layout. Architect Karol Bay is now credited with the church’s design. While Jakub Fontana may not have designed the main structure, he was involved in its expansion around 1743, adding side porches. Tragedy struck again in 1865. A fire swept through Karczew, leaving the church in ruins. The Kurtz family, then owners of the estate, financed its reconstruction. Between 1911 and 1913, architect Hugo Kuder oversaw another expansion, blending eclectic styles with the existing baroque. He added a transept, presbytery, two chapels, a sacristy, and a treasury. The expanded church was consecrated in 1915 by Cardinal Aleksander Kakowski. Even amidst war, the Kościoł pw. Świętego Wita endured. Although damaged in 1944, repairs quickly restored the church to its former glory. Inside, look for the baroque furnishings and stucco work, the boat-shaped pulpit, and paintings by Michał Elwiro Andriolli, a former parishioner. The Kościoł pw. Świętego Wita is more than just a building. It is a story etched in stone and brick, a silent witness to centuries of Karczew’s history.