Gdynia. Unusual operation to relocate historic St. Joseph’s shrine

The St. Joseph’s chapel was located between the roadway lanes of Wielkopolska Street in Gdynia, just before the intersection with Nałkowska Street and Starodworcowa Street. Its location made it difficult for interested parties to get closer, appreciate its historic value and function as an object of worship

Due to the ongoing construction of the Karviná junction, it was decided to secure the shrine and move it to a more accessible location. To this end, a special construction was made to enclose it on all sides. During the work, it became apparent that the shrine was sunken into the ground by about 1/4 of its height. It was therefore decided to set it shallower in the new location in order to expose the formerly buried parts

During the work to secure the statue and shrine. Photo: resources of the MKZ Department

The secured shrine was moved in its entirety with the help of a crane to the area between Wielkopolska Street and Starodworcowa Street, on a previously prepared, stabilised concrete base. The area around the shrine was landscaped to make it look even better. The object was cleaned and conserved. Damaged parts were reconstructed and cavities were filled in. The statue of St Joseph was dismantled and transported to a restoration workshop for restoration. The contractor for the preservation work and relocation of the chapel was MTM S.A. Construction and Roads Company, responsible for the reconstruction of the Karviná junction. Supervision of the work and conservation work on the monument was carried out by the certified conservationist Izabela Huk-Malinowska, MA

View from the south before relocation. Photo: resources of the MKZ Office

The Chapel of St Joseph was probably built at the end of the 19th century. It was built of red brick in the neo-Gothic style and consists of three storeys, the lowest of which has been sunk into the ground. The statue of St Joseph used to be located on the middle storey. In 1935, due to the newly built road, which ran higher than the foundation of the chapel, the middle part of the chapel was bricked up, the statue was moved higher and the ground was levelled by covering the lower parts of the structure. In 1945, as a result of the war, the chapel was damaged, especially its upper part. It was rebuilt by the local community
This type of chapel was usually built in or near villages. They could symbolise a historical event, but also an unpleasant event for the community. They were also erected near bridges and rivers to protect local residents from floods

Source: gdynia.pl

Read also: Metamorphosis | Renovation | Monument | History | Sacral architecture | Gdynia