Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Toruń

The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Blessed Stefan Wincenty Frelichowski in Toruń, one of the city's symbols, has a rich history dating back to the 13th century, when the Franciscans arrived in Toruń in 1239. Initially, the church served as a center of Catholic spirituality, but as a result of the Reformation in the 16th century, it was taken over by Protestants and later by the Bernardines. In 1821, it became a parish church, and the monastery buildings were demolished. Architecturally, the church is a three-nave hall without a tower, featuring an elongated chancel and distinctive turrets, built in the Gothic style. The interior vaults reach a height of 27 meters, and visitors can admire preserved elements of Gothic furnishings, such as oak stalls and a late Gothic crucifix. It is worth noting that the church had a significant influence on the development of Gothic architecture in Pomerania. In the 18th century, the interior was enriched with Mannerist and Baroque elements, including the mausoleum of Princess Anna Vasa. Renaissance epitaphs of Toruń burghers and valuable wall paintings with Czech influences have also been preserved. In the 20th century, the church underwent modernizations, including work on the organ and stained-glass windows. Blessed Father Stefan Wincenty Frelichowski, who served as a vicar from 1938 to 1939, is closely tied to the spiritual history of this place. The church remains an important cultural and religious center, attracting not only the faithful but also tourists interested in its rich history and architecture.