St. Joseph's Church in Łódź

St. Joseph's Church, formerly known as the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is the oldest church in Łódź, built in the second half of the 18th century at 22 Ogrodowa Street. It is the only preserved example of a building from the time when Łódź was an agricultural town. The history of the temple dates back to 1763, when the first church in Łódź was deemed unsafe and demolished. Construction of the new church began in 1765, and it was consecrated in 1768. The modest larch building, measuring 8 by 14 meters, underwent significant expansion between 1835 and 1837, driven by the growing needs of the local community. Another renovation took place in 1881, but eventually, in 1888, it was decided to relocate the church to the grounds of the old Catholic cemetery. After being moved and reconstructed by workers from Poznański's factory, the church was placed under the patronage of St. Joseph. In 1910, a parish was established, and its first pastor, Father Henryk Przeździecki, expanded the church with side aisles and chapels, transforming the surrounding cemetery area into a parish park. In 1935, bells were added to the bell tower, though they were unfortunately stolen during World War II. After the war, the church underwent modernization, including the installation of a new organ in 1951. Various adaptation works were carried out in the following years, and in 2008, the parish park was reopened after a thorough renovation. The church plays an important role not only as a place of religious worship but also as an element of local culture, as evidenced by the ecumenical service held on July 29, 2023, to mark the city's 600th anniversary. Architecturally, it combines features of folk style with later neo-Gothic elements, making it a unique landmark on the map of Łódź.