Sławianowo: church of St. Jacob the Apostle

There is an extremely beautiful altar of St. Barbara in the church. The saint is presented in a long, ornamental dress which is carefully draped and decorated. On the side, in the painting’s copy a sliver dress of the saint is seen.

Barbara belongs to the group of Holy Helpers. She is the patron saint of hard-working people: miners, metallurgists, sailors, soldiers and stonemasons. She is considered to be a patron of good death.

Barbara is holding a sword and a palm in her hand – symbols of martyrdom.

Noteworthy is a wooden bell tower built in post and beam construction, situated in front of the church. Now there are three bells but earlier there were five. During the Second World War the bells form Sławinowo were taken by the Germans and probably remelted for ammunition. Only the smallest and the oldest one, dated to 1621, was left. Years later one of them was discovered in Germany. Thanks to the priest of the parish, the bell returned to Sławinowo after 63 years.

The bell which has been retrieved has a sign below the crown: “Sit nomen Domini benedictum me fecie Michael Wittwerk Gedani Anno 1715” – “Blessed be the name of the Lord – I was cast by Michał Wittwerk in Gdansk in 1715”.