Church of the Immaculate Heart, Grudziądz

Next to the city market, there is a neo‑Gothic church (full name: Kościół Niepokalanego Serca Najświętszej Maryi Panny w Grudziądzu), the history of which is inextricably linked with the development of the German Protestant (evangelical) community in Grudziądz. Initially, they owned a church built in 1785, which was located on the city’s Main Market Square. By the end of the 19th century, due to population growth, the old building could no longer accommodate all the parishioners. In 1889, the community decided to build a new, larger church with 1,600 seated places. The renowned Berlin architect August Menken (1858–1903), the most productive German master in the Neo‑Gothic style, was invited to design the project. In particular, he is the author of the design for St. John’s Basilica in Berlin. The laying and consecration of the first stone took place on May 21, 1896, the construction work progressed quickly and took only two years. The grand opening and consecration of the new evangelical church took place on June 20, 1898. The three-nave building is built of red brick (brick Gothic), the main decoration is a monumental 67-meter square tower topped with a pointed spire.

In January 1920, under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, Pomerania became part of Poland, which led to radical changes in the status of the church, although not immediately. Unlike many other regions of Poland, where “revindication” (the mass transfer of former German and Orthodox churches to Catholics) was practiced, this church remained in the ownership of the German Evangelical‑Uniate Church. Historically, Grudziądz had a strong German diaspora, and the new Polish authorities did not seize the building; services continued in German. However, Polish Protestant patriots began to demand the right to pray in their native language. On May 19, 1923, chaplain Józef Mamica held the first Protestant service in the history of the church in Polish for military personnel and civilians. However, the German leadership of the parish reacted negatively and banned further Polish services within these walls. The conflict was resolved only by 1931, when the Polish Evangelical Augsburg (Lutheran) Zbor (community) was officially organized in Grudzendz under the leadership of Pastor Jerzy Kahane. The German community made concessions and began regularly allocating time for Polish Lutheran worship services. Thus, the church turned into a unique space where German and Polish Protestant communities peacefully coexisted and prayed at the same time.

This idyll was destroyed in September 1939: as a result of the occupation, the Polish Lutheran community was completely eliminated and subjected to repression, while the German Evangelical community regained its monopoly, becoming an instrument of harsh Germanization. Polish services were banned, and prayers for the victory of the Wehrmacht and Nazi holidays were held in the parish. Pastor Jerzy Kahane was arrested by the Gestapo as part of the so-called Intelligenzaktion (a campaign to destroy the Polish intelligentsia) and executed in the autumn of 1939 in the Skroda death camp. Chaplain Józef Mamica also perished in the dungeons of the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp. The German community owned the church until February 1945, when the Red Army approached the city. During the fierce two‑month siege and assault on the city, Grudziądz was reduced to ruins; the church also suffered severe damage, losing its spire on the tower. A significant part of the city’s German population fled, and those who remained were later deported. The German Evangelical community ceased to exist in Grudziądz forever. In June 1945, the building was transferred to the Catholic parish of St. Nicholas. Polish Catholics began to use it for pastoral work with young people. It was during these years that the unofficial name “youth church” (Kościół Młodzieżowy) emerged, which is still used by the townspeople more often than the official name. In 1947, the communist authorities seized the church from the Roman Catholic Church and transferred it to the Polish Catholic Church, which was under the control of the communist government. The schismatics, who did not obey the Pope, were extremely unpopular among the Catholic population, and the new community was very small. The huge building was rarely used and remained in a semi‑ruined state.

It was only in March 1958, amid the political “thaw” in Poland, that the authorities transferred it to the Catholic monastic order of the Marian Fathers (Księża Marianie). The monks reconsecrated the church in honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and rebuilt the damaged interior to meet the needs of the Roman Catholic liturgy. The monks continued their work with young people and turned the church into a spiritual and cultural center, which it remains to this day. Every Sunday at 6:30 p.m., a liturgy is held in the church, organized specifically with the participation of young people. Youth musical groups are involved, using modern instruments, and the sermons are adapted to the current problems and issues faced by teenagers and students. The parish has an active community of young altar servers (assistants at the altar). The monks regularly organize events "Visiting the Marians" (W drodze na Marianki) for teenagers, their program includes joint prayers, acquaintance with the history and traditions of the monastic order, group debates and team educational games. Marianas also organize pilgrimage tours, combining them with excursions and sports activities. The main annual celebration is the Mariosong Music Festival, which is held at the end of May. It attracts young Christian performers, groups and choirs from all over the region.

Since the authentic interiors were lost as a result of the hostilities and subsequent reconstruction, we can now see a concise modern Catholic interior, where the historical severity of Neo‑Gothic architecture harmoniously blends with the lively atmosphere of a modern youth parish. This is a spacious three‑aisle church, where the side aisles are almost equal in height to the central one. The ruined Gothic vaults are replaced by simple ceilings made of dark wood. Thanks to the well‑thought‑out geometry of the building, an amazing natural reverberation is created inside the cathedral. It is this feature of the interior that has made the church an ideal venue for the Mariosong Music Festival and youth concerts. An organ made in Germany in 1969 is installed in the choirs above the main entrance. It is used both during traditional liturgies and to accompany youth pastoral meetings. The interior design is absolutely austere. The tall pointed Gothic windows are decorated with modern stained glass windows, combined with beige walls and white columns make it very bright.

The church is not a tourist attraction and is open only during Mass or church events, so there is little time for sightseeing before and after them. I was lucky to be there at the right time.

Next to the church is the building of the pastor’s residence (plebania), constructed in 1889, also in the Neo‑Gothic style. It is part of the complex; in fact, it was the starting point for its construction. Behind the plebania, you can see the wall of the “Evangelical House,” built in 1910. There was a hall where community meetings and cultural events were held. Later, it became a cinema, and now it houses retail and office spaces.

Another house to the left of the church entrance also belonged to the Evangelist community complex; now it is occupied by municipal services.

To the right, before entering the church, there is a memorial in memory of the Polish officers from the city of Grudziądz who became victims of the Katyn massacre. Before World War II, Grudziądz was the most important military center in Poland, home to the famous Cavalry Training Center (Centrum Wyszkolenia Kawalerii), the legendary 18th Pomeranian Uhlan Regiment, and other elite units. After Germany and the USSR attacked Poland in 1939, they heroically defended their borders, but were surrounded by the Red Army. Many brilliant cavalry officers, staff officers, and military instructors were taken prisoner; they were sent to camps and soon almost all were killed in March 1940. In front of the stele, a bust of priest Zdzisław Peszkowski (1918–2007) is installed on a granite pedestal. He was one of the few survivors of the prisoners of war, and later became a key figure in preserving the memory of the victims of this tragedy. Every year on April 13, commemorative events are held at the memorial.