St. Guardian Angels Roman Catholic Church – Magyarkanizsa

History

The parish was founded in 1750. Prior to that, Franciscan monks from Subotica provided pastoral care in the area. The church itself was built in 1768. During the Hungarian Revolution of 1848–49, it was burned down in the siege of the town. It was renovated in 1857, then expanded and restored again in 1911. In 1934, the interior was repainted, followed by another interior renovation in 1992. The church organ, originally built at the end of the 18th century, is also a historical treasure, though no written record has survived regarding its original builder. Based on estimations and the construction style, it was likely crafted by Ádám Mertz.

Style

The church was built in a late Baroque style with Classicist influences. Its dimensions are impressive: 62 meters long, 15 meters wide, with a tower rising to 48.5 meters. The tower houses five bells that call the faithful to worship. The church is located directly in the town center, serving as a central site for community and spiritual life. The church garden is adorned with statues, the most famous being the Holy Trinity statue, erected in 1891 by the Bata family from Magyarkanizsa. It has stood in the same place for 126 years.

Renovation

Since 2002, ongoing restoration work has been carried out on the church’s exterior façade, including a roof replacement supported by the local municipality. In 2019, the church organ was completely rebuilt. The restoration preserved parts of the old organ that were still in good condition, such as the first manual, also dating back to the late 18th century. The reconstruction was carried out by László Varga in Taksony, Hungary, and took one year to complete. The costs of the renovation—€40,000—were covered jointly by the parish, private donors, companies, and the municipality of Magyarkanizsa.

Present day

As of now, the St. Guardian Angels Roman Catholic Church, popularly known as the "Big Church" (Nagytemplom), remains a central religious and cultural landmark of the town. Mass Schedule: Daily Mass: 6:30 AM Sundays and Holidays: 8:30 AM Evening Mass: Summer time: 6:00 PM Winter time: 5:00 PM Masses are held in Hungarian. Group visits are available by prior arrangement. Parish Office Hours: Monday to Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday afternoons: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Contact number: +381244877832 More info: hellokanjiza.rs Facebook: Church Facebook Page The church continues to play an active role in the community, regularly posting news and updates on its Facebook page.