Crisis in Polish Church Architecture

Christ the King Parish, Gliwice, Poland

Recently I read an article in the Polish weekly, "OZON," which confirmed all of my observations about the state of sacred architecture in Poland. It seems that after the fall in 1989, there is a great lack of creativity and tradition in the design of Catholic churches. While the lack of building materials and money during the PRL (Polish People's Republic) times may excuse the current appearance of some steel and concrete churches, it is hard to understand why today there is such a lack in beautiful church designs. From the Divine Mercy Shrine, to the Church of St. Jadwiga in Krakow, to this Church of Christ the King in Gliwice, there is an overall confusion in trying to create a modern sacred space. One exception seems to be the recent Shrine of Our Lady of Lichen , built in a traditional domed basilica style, alluding to St. Peter's in Rome (though seriosuly lacking the pleasing proportions of the Italian Baroque).