Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chojnice

The Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chojnice is a Baroque Roman Catholic building whose history dates back to the early 17th century. It was built by the Jesuits, who arrived in Chojnice in 1619 at the request of Father Jan Gleissen Dorengowski. In 1640, a wooden church was erected, which unfortunately burned down in 1712. Reconstruction began in 1713 after funds were granted by the General Sejmik of Royal Prussia. The new brick church was built in the Baroque style, and construction was completed in 1744 with the towers covered in copper sheet and bells cast in 1755. As a result of the suppression of the Jesuit order in 1773, the church was converted into a gymnasium church, but over the years its status and use changed multiple times. From 1800 to 1918, the building served as barracks and warehouses for the military. After World War II, the church became the seat of the parish of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, and in 1976, the Parish of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was established, which existed until 2005. Architecturally, the church is a three-nave, plastered structure with a twin-tower façade and Baroque polychrome dominated by bronze and gray tones, executed in 1742. The interior is adorned with a late Baroque main altar featuring an image of the Virgin Mary and side altars with depictions of saints. An interesting fact is that in 1963, the concealing paint was removed from the frescoes, allowing for their restoration. Modern renovation work, carried out between 2010 and 2012, restored the splendor of this historic site. The Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is not only an important point on the cultural map of Chojnice but also a testament to the rich history of the Pomerania region.