In the picturesque Lądek-Zdrój, amidst the spa landscapes, there is an unusual historical monument – the former Evangelical Church of St. Stanislaus. Salvatore church, built in 1846. Although today the church is in ruins, its history is an important part of the town’s heritage.
St Salvator’s Church was consecrated on 13 August 1848. The temple became a place of worship for the local Protestant community and quickly won the favour of many wealthy patrons. In 1858, the Protestant princess Marianne of Orange, owner of an estate in nearby Stronie Śląskie, offered financial assistance for its expansion. However, it was not until 1908 that the church was extended, and another, more substantial modernisation took place between 1924 and 1929, according to a design by the architect Ivan of Zabrze. The opening ceremony in 1929 was honoured by the Hohenzollern princes, which emphasised the importance and rank of the church
St. Salvator Church in 1938. Photo: Lower Silesia Digital Library
After World War II, as a result of the resettlement of the Evangelical community, St. Salvator’s church ceased to fulfil its sacral function and remained unused for many years. The equipment was sent to other churches, e.g. the pews to the parish church in Lądek-Zdrój, the organ was sold to the church in Środa Śląska, and the clock mechanism from the church tower was installed in the park, where it was used to drive the flower clock. Over the following decades, there were ideas for the use of the church – from a balneological museum in the 1960s to plans for a sports hall in the church in the early 1990s, but none of these projects lived to see fruition.
In 1999, the church was severely damaged by a fire that ravaged the interior of the church and destroyed the roof, significantly reducing the chances of renovation and adaptation. As time passed, the building gradually fell into disrepair and the need to develop it became an increasingly pressing problem. In 1991, the Evangelical-Augsburg parish of Kłodzko applied for the return of the church, but the matter was not resolved until 2017, when the city settled the claim. The temple was put up for sale and its new owners became a married couple from near Warsaw, who planned to give this unique building a new function.
St Salvator Church in 1930 and 2021. Photo: Schlesische Monatshefte and Google Maps
The new owners intend to transform the ruined church into a lively and cultural venue. Their plan includes the installation of an art gallery with a café area in the church, as well as the opening of a viewing tower, which will become an additional tourist attraction for residents and visitors to Lądek-Zdrój. However, all work is blocked by restrictive requirements and decisions of the conservation officer. Meanwhile, in the summer of 2021, a several-kilogram piece of beam broke off from the ruined walls and fell directly onto the pavement and into the street, which is clear evidence of the constantly deteriorating condition of the former temple.
Its renovation and adaptation for artistic and tourist purposes represent an opportunity to protect the heritage and cultural enrichment of Lądek-Zdrój. However, there are many indications that this will not happen soon.
Source: klodzko.naszemiasto.pl, odtur.pl
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