The Church
 
   
 
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This is the church where my siblings and I were christened. Later my two sisters and brother were able to celebrate their confirmation here but unfortunately it was no longer possible for me to be confirmed here. The picture on the left shows the church as I remember it. I also have vivid memories of the all the happy celebrations which took place here. Weddings were especially memorable, with the arrival of the bridal party in their coach. The flower girls, wearing beautiful dresses, preceded them to the church and scattered flowers along the path as they went. I also remember the sad occasions when the church bells tolled for a villager being laid to rest. At Christmas time I could hardly wait for the playing of ‘Silent night. . .” because then the golden star above the organ would begin to turn. Also, I can still envision the Sunday services and the sermons delivered by Pastor Thimm and later by his successor Pastor Kohli. Mr. Beuthner, a teacher, played the organ after Kantor Schüttler retired.

History of the church
Based on an article by Pater Bednarek

 According to records, the church was first mentioned in 1335. It was very small and came under the jurisdiction of Trebnitz. The many battles and wars fought for the control of the area, resulted in frequent changes in the rulers, who determined the religion of the villagers. This is the explanation for the church changing from Catholic to Protestant and back again.

 
 Pulpit around 1913 with epitaphs of 1688
Up to 1535 Catholic
1535 – 1631 Protestant
1631 – 1638  Catholic
1638 – 1654  Protestant
1654 – 1707  Catholic
1707 – 1945  Protestant
 
The growth of several villages belonging to the parish of Paschkerwitz necessitated the enlargement of the church in 1690 and 1702. The present church was built in 1839. It had a bell tower for three bells, and a sacristy, which was later enlarged. At this time the village had a population of 467 residents.
 

Two Bells had the following inscriptions :  

Anno 1746 den1. January ist diese Glocke zersprungen und das folgende Jahr unter Direction des wohlgeborenen Ritters und Herrn's Sylvie Gottlieb von Helmrich Erb- und Lehensherrn in Paschkerwietz und Herrn Johann Gottfried Eckhardt, Pastor, wüderum umgegossen worden.

Weil mein Ersatz alt und gutt hab ich auch wohl geklungen,beynah 300 Jahr, bin endlich doch zersprungen, Nun hat zu Gottes Her mich wieder neu gemacht vor Breslau Samuel Scholtz in diese Form gebracht

1747 Breslau Gießer Samuel Scholtz

During the last war, church bells, including one from Paschkerwitz, were taken to Hamburg in order to be melted down for munitions. However, the older and more valuable bells were saved, and after the war, those from the lost provinces were distributed to churches in West Germany. The bell from Paschkerwitz was reportedly sent to Affalterthal in Bavaria, but this has not been confirmed.There is a well known poem called “ Der Glockenguß zu Breslau ” (The bell maker of Breslau) which we learned in school.

The Atonement Cross

Atonement crosses first appeared during the Middle Ages. Whoever committed murder had to erect such a cross. The photo on the lower left shows the atonement cross near the church in Paschkerwitz. It measures   80x 79x12cm. There is another cross in a garden located in the southwestern part of the village.

Although some damage was inflicted on the building, the church survived the war. Unfortunately, all the church records of births, marriages and deaths were lost. After the war, the church became Catholic again, and now Polish people worship and celebrate there.

 

   

 

Atonement Cross

  

Organ in 1913

   Gravestone 1666   Church with Morgue  
Altar in 1913

The organ in 1939

List of all Engler-Organs

 

The history of the organ

The organ in the Paschkerwitz church was built in 1749 by Michael Engler jr. (1688 – 1760), the famous organ builder from Breslau. The organ had a total of 14 voices and was refurbished in 1839 by Robert Müller from Breslau. The manual (keyboard) was situated to one side of the instrument. Above the central pipe section was a cymbal surrounded by carved golden rays of the sun with angels' heads. A decorative carving in the form of a coat of arms was featured at the base of the central pipe section. Michael Engler also built organs for other churches in the district of Trebnitz, such as Trebnitz (Trzebnica), Hünern (Psary), Peterwitz (Piotrkowiczki) and Groß Hammer (Kuzniczysko). The largest organ was located in the St. Elisabeth church at Breslau, until it was destroyed by a fire in 1976.

In the library of the University of Wroclaw (formerly Breslau) there is an accounts ledger from 1751, which lists the voices of the organ in Paschkerwitz (now Pasikurowice). The title page of this book is signed by Michael Engler.

Reference: www.walckerorgel.de/gewalcker.de/2008-10-15/englerdoc.pdf

The organ today

The organ has now been refinished and looks good for its age. For years it had been silent until it was refurbished in 1998. Its present state reflects the many repairs and modifications performed over the centuries. All the ornaments, including the star, can be seen in the 1939 photo but they no longer appear in the latest pictures. The coat of arms looks just the same as when I last saw it in 1944.

         

 

     
 
 
 
 
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