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Nasza Przeszłość

Vol. 113 (2010): Our Past

Articles

Jesuit complex in Bydgoszcz. Shaping the spatial arrangement and architecture

  • Andrzej Kusztelski
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52204/np.2010.113.185-236  [Google Scholar]
Published: 2010-06-30

Abstract

The College of the Society of Jesus in Bydgoszcz has not been the subject of in-depth research so far. The Jesuit institution in Bydgoszcz was founded in 1617. The inhabitants of the city and the surrounding area, wanting to provide the monks with a comfortable life, donated the surrounding villages to them for the maintenance of the convent and houses in the city. In 1619, the center was raised to the rank of a residence. An important moment in history was the assumption of the position of superior in 1634 by the outstanding theologian Stanisław Brzechwa. He was responsible for raising the Bydgoszcz center to the rank of a college. This initiative began with the construction of buildings and a new church. Construction works on the church took place in the years 1643-1648, and the church was consecrated in 1653. The church was designed and built by the northern Italian architect Krzysztof Bonadur. From an architectural point of view, the church in Bydgoszcz is characterized by moderation of the means used, compared to other works of Bonadura, which were much richer architecturally, and their features are clearly Mannerist. This influenced the monumentalization of the place, bringing the church in Bydgoszcz closer to the architecture of the early Baroque. The idea of adding a pair of towers to the façade should be considered an inspiration that came from the façade of the Jesuit church in Vienna. The church in Bydgoszcz was completed in 1695. Probably due to lack of funds, the main altar remained provisional for a long time (until 1679). In the 18th century, the equipment was renovated. The completion of the church construction made the monks aware of the vital needs of the college. Until then, they lived and probably conducted school activities in simple buildings along Jezuicka Street. Later their houses were more suitable. The successful development of the center required the expansion of the area. However, the subsequent Swedish occupation, which was associated with the economic collapse of the country, postponed the implementation of this project. A new period of financial prosperity for the college came just after 1680, when it received a large subsidy from the Pomeranian standard-bearer Jan Komorski. This made it possible to complete the church furnishings, complete the construction of all the towers and certainly complete the construction of the new college building, which, together with another, slightly older building, could have provided the Jesuits with greater comfort and freedom of action. In the years 1682-83, the outstanding Jesuit architect Bartłomiej Nathaniel Wąsowski became the rector of the college and prefect of construction works in Bydgoszcz. Work began then on the construction of a new wing along Jezuicka Street. However, this meant the need to demolish existing buildings, including the school. So the new school was built on several plots of land on the southern side of the church. The construction was completed in 1703. After the order was canceled, the building was handed over to the authorities. The church became a pastoral center for German Catholics, and the school next door was demolished. Ultimately, in the interwar period, the former college served various functions. It was the seat of the City Museum, later it became a courthouse. After the expansion, the building was used as a junior high school. Later, city authorities were located there. The church and the oldest part of the college were demolished during the occupation in 1940.

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