Holy Trinity and All Saints Church in Goręczyno

A stone plaque on the east wall of the church in Goręczyno carries a Latin inscription: the building was raised in 1639 to the glory of the Holy Trinity and All Saints, in the time of Brother Kasper Kochelius, procurator of the Carthusians of Trier. It is one of the oldest brick churches around Kartuzy, and its silhouette even appears on the coat of arms of the Somonino municipality. The bell in its tower is older than the church itself.

History: from a wooden chapel to a Carthusian church

The parish is among the oldest in Pomerania and was probably founded in the 13th century. The first church was wooden and dedicated to St Agatha; a bishop's inspector noted as late as 1583 that it was still built of timber. From the 15th century the village belonged to the Carthusian monks of nearby Kartuzy, and in 1639 they built the present Baroque church in brick. It was not consecrated until 1772, by Cyprian Wolicki, auxiliary bishop of Włocławek.

In the early 20th century the church was enlarged. In 1905 a transept and low side aisles were added, giving the building a cross-shaped plan. Its current appearance dates from a restoration in 1912–1914, led by the parish priest Anastazy Kopaczewski under Bernhard Schmid, conservator of the Prussian province of West Prussia; the painting work was done by Arthur Fahlberg of Friedrichshagen near Berlin.

What to see

• The 1639 foundation plaque on the outer east wall — walk all the way round the church.
• The square tower with its bell-shaped cap, housing a bell cast in 1400 and weighing 717 kg.
• The Gothic figure of Our Lady of Mercy in the high altar, hidden behind a movable painting, and the Gothic carving of St Barbara — the most valuable pieces inside.
• Baroque altars: the high altar of All Saints, the Holy Trinity on the left and the Virgin Mary on the right.
• A 17th-century statue of St Bruno, founder of the Carthusian order, in the rectory garden.
• An old pulpit, font, organ, stained glass and Kashubian candlesticks and altar cloths.

Did you know?

Under the medieval Pomeranian dukes, Goręczyno was the seat of its own castellany, and the village name appears in documents as early as 1241. For centuries the parish covered a large area; new parishes were later carved out of it in Szymbark (1928), Hopowo (1976) and Somonino (1983). Goręczyno was also the birthplace of Alfons Flisykowski, who commanded the defence of the Polish Post Office in Gdańsk in September 1939.

Tripto tip

The village lies on the Radunia river at the eastern edge of the Kashubian Landscape Park, and the Radunia canoe trail passes right through it. The church is an active parish, so the easiest way to see the interior is around Mass times; the exterior, plaque and tower can be seen at any time. Allow 20–30 minutes. The nearest railway stations are Somonino and Sławki, and in summer Goręczyno serves as an accommodation base for Lake Ostrzyckie.