All over the world, the Upper Silesian Region, situated centrally in the South of Poland at the foot of the Beskiden mountains is associated only with its heavy steel mills, coal-mines and power plants.

But there is more than that. The inhabitants of Silesia are and always have been very special people. They have been brought up within a particular Christian culture and very strongly attached to the land of their ancestors. During the past thousand years they have been speaking three languages having been in contact with three cultures.

This particular character of an inhabitant as well as the character of this geographical region in Europe is partly due to the existence of small wooden churches scattered throughout all of the Upper Silesia specially nearby towns: Raciborz, Gliwice, Rybnik, Pszczyna, Bierun Stary.

Their were constant robbery and destruction raids. The citizens rebuilt, renovated and protected the relics. The last fire of this 350 year old building took place in 1971 as the result of a bad electric installation. The second one was done later by a mentally ill incendiary. The f

ire in 1971 destroyed all the roof and ceiling but all the figures, paintings und altars were protected.The cost are being paid by people belonging to the parish.

A conservatory inventory and technical plans were done for the Bierun parish by Katowice team with Eng. W. Suckert und Eng. K. Kindle, Kudla and Schneider. There were preserved an old structure of “orchid bounds” of the roof which as 350 years ago was the soul of wooden churches with high roofs (look figures).

Monheim/Rh, den 25.09.2000