Built between 1838 and 1842 according to a design by Schildner, it has retained its original form and architectural decoration.  Noteworthy is the entrance door with tondo motifs with reliefs of angels by the architect Karl F. Schinkel. The church is a testimony to the multicultural heritage of Gniezno and Wielkopolska.

History of the structure

After the second partition of Poland in 1793, Gniezno found itself on the territory of the newly created Prussian province, the so-called South Prussia, which covered almost the whole Wielkopolska region. With the influx of German Evangelicals, mainly clerks and military men, the Evangelical community was established in the town. In 1838, the community received funds from Frederick William IV to build a new church. The church was erected on the site of the previous one, built in 1804-06 and known only from drawings, which was demolished in 1820 due to its poor technical condition. Built between 1838 and 1842 based on a design by a German architect W. Schildner, it was significantly expanded at the turn of 1896 and 1897. Two side aisles were added to the main nave, giving the building a seating capacity of approximately 823. Next to the church is the community board building, with a gymnasium added in 1919, which now houses Primary School No. 5.

Description of the structure

Gniezno, the seat of Gniezno District, is situated in the eastern part of Wielkopolskie Voivodeship, within the macro-region called Gniezno Lake District. The church is located in the city centre, at the intersection of Bolesława Chrobrego and Macieja Łubieńskiego Streets. Near the church there is a cross and a statue of St. Adalbert (997-1997), patron of Poland and Gniezno. The monument was designed by Jerzy Sobociński. Erected in 1997, with funds raised nationwide to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the death of St. Adalbert. Unveiled in June 1997, it was consecrated by the Holy Father John Paul II, during the 6th Pilgrimage to Poland.  

The three-nave church was built on a rectangular floor plan, with a separate, narrower, semicircular chancel, with adjoining lower: sacristy and porches, and an extended tower, on the south-west axis of the elevation. The nave, chancel, sacristy and porch are covered with separate gable and multi-slope roofs. The whole is dominated by a massive tower, built on a square floor plan, topped with an attic and a characteristic conical brick cupola. All roof planes are covered with sheet metal.

The building is of brick, unplastered, with a plinth faced with stone slabs. In the front elevation, the main entrance to the church, in the form of a semicircular portal, is decorated with a carved panel door, filled with bas-reliefs depicting angels supporting panels with inscriptions. Brick elevations are varied by cornices and semicircular lintels. In the side elevations rhythmically arranged windows are placed on two levels. Above there are tall, semicircular windows, below there are smaller double windows.  

The main and side naves of the church are connected with high semicircular arcades. The whole building with the sacristy and side porches is covered with flat wooden ceilings. Inside, the original galleries have been preserved, decorated with a panelled balustrade filled with rosette motifs. From the original furnishing of the temple we can find: two crucifixes, a baptismal font, stained glass windows in the nave and chancel, pews and door woodwork.

Visitor access. The church can be visited from the outside.

Compiled by: Radomiła Banach, Regional Branch of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage in Poznań, 12.01.2018

Bibliography

• Encyklopedia Gniezna i Ziemi Gnieźnieńskiej, TMG 2011
• Katalog zabytków sztuki w Polsce, Vol. V, z. 3: powiat gnieźnieński, Warsaw 1963
• Dzieje Gniezna, red. J. Topolski, PWN Warsaw 1965