St. Mary Magdalene Church in Czarnków

The Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Czarnków is a late Gothic temple located in the town of Czarnków, within the Czarnków deanery, on Kościelna Street. It was built in the 16th century and later expanded in the 17th and 18th centuries, showcasing typical Gothic features such as an impressive facade and a star-ribbed vault in the main nave and the northern chapel. The interior of the church houses many valuable elements of furnishings from the 17th and 18th centuries, including Rococo stalls and a Passion group located on the rood beam. In the vestibule, visitors can see a commemorative plaque dedicated to Father Mikołaj Świnarski, who was murdered in the Oranienburg camp during World War II. The southern chapel of the Czarnkowski family features a Renaissance tomb of Maciej Czarnkowski, the castellan of Bydgoszcz, and his wife Katarzyna, a work by sculptors Herman von Hutte and J. Zaręba. Also drawing attention is the tin coffin of Sędziwój Czarnkowski, adorned with bas-reliefs illustrating events from his life. The church's altar includes a painting of a guardian angel, attributed to H. Hahn, and a painting of the Holy Family, also by this artist, while the second side altar holds a work depicting the Madonna and Child from around 1616. The church is also distinguished by Renaissance grilles at the entrances to the chapels and iron doors in the sacristy, dating back to 1582. Its architecture, numerous works of art, and rich historical context make it a significant landmark in both the religious and cultural landscape of the region.