The first seminary in the Archdiocese of Gniezno was founded in Kalisz. One of the arguments for locating the seminary in Kalisz was the humanities studies conducted by the Jesuits and the possibility of practicing during church ceremonies in their church. It ended its activity in 1621. Primate Stanisław Karnkowski (1581-1603) also founded a theological seminary in Gniezno in 1598, and then in Łowicz in 1602. The seminary has survived various historical tribulations. In 1718 it passed into the hands of the missionaries of St. Vincent de Paul.