An imposing wooden church is rising among beautiful greenery. It is enough for a traveller, who is sensitive to the beauty of sacral architecture, to walk around this three-aisled structure to be impressed. It is not difficult to find this church, you just need to drive thirteen kilometres south-east from Ciechanów.
The oldest historical records mention the name of Czerbniewo, which was used back then in reference to Ciemniewko, already in 1378. The documents proving the foundation of the parish by the bishop of Płock have been preserved. Local chroniclers already in 1384, when writing about the neighbourhood, mentioned the existence of the church, so the construction must have been quick. The second church was built in the 16th century and its opening coincided with the change of the parish patron saint. The Blessed Virgin Mary and St Nicholas were replaced by St John the Baptist. The next church, again with St Nicholas as patron saint, was built for many years and the construction was divided into stages. The work began in 1757, a new nave was built and the altars were brought from the old church. Later they were disassembled and used to build the presbytery.
It was Róża Mierzyńska, who owned estate in the 19th century and who contributed to the current appearance of the church. The building was rebuilt and expanded thanks to her funds.
The church is delightful not only on the outside. Inside, you can admire a polichromy made by Bronisław Brykner in 1929. The artist used the elements of the Hutsuls art and was rewarded for this by the jury of the award conferred by the Exhibition of the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts.
Inside the church, it is worth paying attention to the 19th century altars. They all came here from Ciechanów. The main altar is decorated with a painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Child dating back to the turn of the 17th and the 18th centuries. The painting is surrounded by votive offerings that the faithful gave as a token of gratitude for answered prayers.