St. James' Church in Oliwa

St. James Church in Oliwa, located at Opacka Street in Gdańsk, is a Roman Catholic filial church with a rich history dating back to the 14th century. Initially built next to a Cistercian monastery as a three-nave brick church for local residents, it was destroyed by Gdańsk soldiers in 1577 and later rebuilt as a two-nave structure between 1591 and 1593. The church was consecrated by Suffragan Bishop Franciszek Łącki on January 18, 1604. A 24-meter tower was added in 1709. Throughout the 19th century, the church underwent numerous changes, including the dissolution of the Cistercian monastery. It only became a parish church for Catholics after 1946, following the relocation of the Protestant congregation to a new church. The eclectic architecture of the church features a two-nave design measuring 28 meters in length, 10 meters in width, and 12 meters in height. It is furnished with an 18th-century altar and pulpit. A notable decorative element is the Rococo cartouche from the time of Abbot Jacek Józef Rybiński. The floor includes six tomb slabs, four of which bear coats of arms. Near the church, there were once pilgrimage stations associated with the Brotherhood of the Way of the Cross, and a preserved chapel of St. John Nepomucene attests to the religious devotion of the local community. The church has undergone multiple renovations, including in 1879–1882 and 1999, when the roof and tower were restored. In 2006, the building received new external illumination, highlighting its aesthetic appeal at night. St. James Church not only serves as a place of worship but also stands as a witness to the region’s history, its transformations, and the spiritual life of Oliwa’s residents.