St. John's Church in Stargard

The Church of St. John in Stargard is an important Roman Catholic monument with historical roots dating back to the Middle Ages, associated with the local commandery of the Knights Hospitaller. The origins of the church date to the second half of the 13th century, when a conventual chapel was built, later replaced by a Late Gothic church. The structure is a three-nave hall church with an ambulatory hall choir and a western tower. The first construction work on the interior took place in the second quarter of the 14th century, and the tower began to be erected in 1408. Analysis of the structure reveals four distinct phases of choir construction, which was gradually transformed from a single-nave design into a hall layout. The church features star vaulting in the main nave and cross vaulting in the side aisles. While it was largely spared from fires, the tower was destroyed twice, leading to its reconstruction. In 1892, a new conical tower, standing 99 meters tall, was added. During renovation work on the tower in 1998, a metal ball containing historical documents was discovered and later transferred to the City Museum. After World War II, the church was handed over to the Roman Catholic Church, and priests from the Society of Christ began its restoration, including roof repairs and interior work. Before the war, one of the most valuable elements of the church's furnishings was the Late Gothic St. John Polyptych, which was dismantled and moved to the National Museum in Szczecin. The church also features a Baroque pulpit and an organ dating back to 1731. In 2005, it was enriched with relics of Saint Raphael Kalinowski. With its rich architecture and history, the Church of St. John is a significant landmark in Stargard, underscoring the cultural and religious identity of the region.