Evangelical-Augsburg Church in Piotrków Trybunalski

The Evangelical-Augsburg Church in Piotrków Trybunalski is a significant place of worship whose history dates back to the construction of a Catholic Piarist church, which began in 1689 and was completed in 1718. The Piarist Order, brought to Piotrków on the initiative of Father Franciszek Haligowski, received financial support from local patrons, enabling their rapid expansion in the northwestern part of the city. A fire in 1786 destroyed the Piarist buildings, forcing the monks to relocate to the former Jesuit monastery. After the Second Partition of Poland in 1795, the church became the property of the Evangelicals, who adapted it for Lutheran worship. From 1817, the parish had a permanent pastor, and thanks to the efforts of local spiritual leaders, including Samuel Schäffer, the church regained its full religious functions. The architecture of the church, built in the Baroque style, features a single-nave structure with a shorter presbytery covered by a cross vault. Externally, the church acquired towers only at the end of the 19th century. In 1824, wooden galleries were installed in the chapels, replacing the earlier Piarist altars. The interior of the church retains the Baroque main altar and a music choir with Rococo ornaments. The church plays an important role in the cultural life of Piotrków, organizing organ music concerts and other events. Since 1998, the parish priest has been Rev. Wiesław Żydel. An interesting fact is that between 1800 and 1824, the church was also used for military and hospital purposes, and even before World War II, the parish struggled with financial difficulties, especially after the displacement of the German population after 1945. Despite these challenges, the church has survived to this day, continuing its religious and cultural mission in Piotrków.