St John the Baptist Church in Międzyrzecz

St John the Baptist Church in Międzyrzecz is the town’s oldest surviving church and a distinctive example of Late Gothic architecture in Greater Poland. The brick parish church stands on Spokojna Street, close to the historic centre and the town’s sightseeing routes.

A parish church from 1474–1479

The parish was established in 1232, but the present church was built between 1474 and 1479. The building survived several fires, the last of which took place in 1824. It was in Lutheran hands from 1554 to 1604; after returning to the Catholic community, it was reconsecrated in 1660. This history is best understood in the context of Międzyrzecz’s borderland setting and changing political fortunes.

Paintings from 1545 and the martyrs’ relics

The interior’s greatest surprise is a set of Renaissance paintings discovered in 2009 during renovation work. The 1545 wall paintings, funded by local starost Wawrzyniec Myszkowski, cover about 300 square metres of the chancel. In 1965 relics of the Międzyrzecz Martyrs were brought here and an altar was erected in their honour. Also look for the Berchsdorf organ from Nysa, installed in 1933.

Practical information

The church is at 6 Spokojna Street in Międzyrzecz. It is an active parish; the parish website publishes current service times and information about interior access. Combine the visit with the market square, the Museum of the Międzyrzecz Land and the remains of the medieval fortifications. Allow 30–45 minutes for the church.