Its exceptional value stems from the presence of a unique ensemble of headstones, made using a highly peculiar technique which one of the monographers of the cemetery designated simply as the “Śliwice type”. These distinctive works of vernacular sepulchral art, reminiscent of sand castles, are unique to the Śliwice cemetery and have not appeared in any other location. Their presence has made the Śliwice necropolis an absolutely singular site on a nationwide scale.

History

The parish of St Catherine of Alexandria was first established back in the 13th century; at that point, all that the parish had at its disposal insofar as burial grounds were concerned was a small church cemetery, which was finally closed in 1896. The cemetery which exists in the present location was first mentioned in written sources dating back to 1746, although it is believed that it may have existed even back in the 17th century. The circumstances of the establishment of the cemetery remain shrouded in mystery. Back in those times, cemeteries designated for people who were excluded from the local religious community would be located far from the churchyard. One cannot rule out that this is exactly how the Śliwice necropolis came into being in the first place. The rules concerning burials were governed by various administrative regulations, which, from the late 18th century, have been gradually introducing the prohibition on burying the dead in city or town centres as well as around churches. On December 31, 1866, the authorities of the Pelplin diocese issued a regulation which placed an obligation upon all the local parishes to establish burial grounds far from inhabited areas. The oldest surviving headstone belongs to rev. Juliusz Ruchniewicz, who died on 31-10-1867, the location of his grave being most likely chosen as a response to the regulations adopted by the ecclesiastical superiors. It is now believed that the new cemetery was established by the local parish priest Marcin Kiljahn (who dies on 06-04-1885), his grave being marked by the second-oldest surviving headstone in the cemetery. According to cartographic sources, the cemetery was already in existence in 1874. Initially, the total surface of the cemetery was 1.02 hectares; the cemetery occupied a triangular plot of land, with a gate on the southern side and a transverse walking path leading from the north. Towards the end of the 19th century, the northward extension of the necropolis has begun. Somewhere around the year 1901, the parcel of land situated between the first transverse alley and the road leading towards Czersk was also incorporated into the cemetery grounds. The cemetery - which by now occupied 3.2 hectares of land - was consecrated in 1908, on the Trinity Sunday. Before the consecration took place, a group of sculptures depicting the Crucifixion was erected in the cemetery, incorporating ceramic statues imported from Bavaria. In 1931, the former entrance gate was replace with a new one, made at the metalworking workshop maintained by Franciszek /?/ Ebelowski from Chełmno. The necropolis has managed to survive to the present day in the shape which it attained in 1908. From 2010 onwards, renovation works have been performed on an ongoing basis, focusing, first and foremost, on the unique headstones representing the so-called “Śliwice type”.

Description

The cemetery is situated south-west of the town centre, west of the local parish church. It is surrounded by fields which stretch to the east and the west. The site of the cemetery is slightly elevated along the axis of the main path, sloping gently to the sides. The site of the cemetery takes the form of an elongated wedge, its southern apex positioned near Podgórna street, with its northern base running alongside Czerska street. Cmentarna street, with its distinctly undulating course, serves as the western boundary of the burial ground. The main (southern) entrance gate, dating back to 1931, is situated alongside Podgórna street. The main alley running from the north to the south forms the main compositional axis of the entire site, splitting the necropolis into two sections. The alley leads away from the main gate towards the Crucifixion Group at the very end, positioned atop a tall, brick plinth. The main alley is transected by three transverse paths dividing the cemetery into eight burial plots in total. The overall design of the cemetery takes advantage of the shape of the underlying terrain. The purposeful arrangement of trees, planted in a manner similar to that of a park, was intended as a reference to the Garden of Eden. Most of the trees and shrubs are domestic species, with the largest concentration of trees being located in the northern part of the cemetery. The oldest surviving headstones can be found on the second burial plot counting from the main gate, on the western side of the main path.

A large number of unique sepulchral monuments known as headstones of the “Śliwice type” have been preserved in the necropolis, their unusual contours being the result of application of mortar on top of a metal mesh framework. Although they share the same technique of execution, these headstones are highly individualised in terms of form and design, with the only shared feature being the presence of a cross at the top. In addition to these highly unusual designs, there are also traditional stone sepulchral monuments from the years 1867-1920, manufactured by a number of gravestone carving workshops in Wąbrzeźno and Chojnice. These are also accompanied by a number of cast iron grave markers, the oldest of them commemorating reverend Ruchniewicz, who died in 1867.

The site is open to visitors.

compiled by Bogna Derkowska-Kostkowska, Historical Monument and National Heritage Documentation and Popularisation Department of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Cultural Centre in Bydgoszcz, 26-11-2014 - 8-12-2014.

Bibliography

• Kołyszko Marek, Cmentarz parafii pw. św. Katarzyny Aleksandryjskiej w Śliwicach w latach 1867-1920, Toruń 2012.
• Węsierski Adam, Dzieje parafii św. Katarzyny w Śliwicach wczasach zaboru pruskiego (1870-1920). Śliwice 2009.