The Church of St Andrew the Apostle in Kościelec, near Koło in Greater Poland, currently consists of a 12th-century Romanesque chancel and a modern, brick-built nave. A major reconstruction, which began in the 1990s, completely transformed the appearance of the church and continues to raise questions today about the extent and limits of intervention in historic monuments.
A 12th-century Romanesque treasure
Kościelec Kolski boasts one of the most valuable relics of Romanesque ecclesiastical architecture in Greater Poland. The first Church of St Andrew was probably built here as early as the mid-12th century. It was a small, single-nave building constructed of hewn stone, closed off to the east by a semicircular apse. Its interior measured just 4.8 by 7.3 metres. All that remains of the original church are the walls, two Romanesque windows in the apse, and traces of openings and stairs leading to the gallery. It is precisely this stone section that now serves as the chancel of the larger church. Around 1601, a brick sacristy and treasury were added to the north side – the date is preserved on the wall. The church was gradually modernised over the following centuries, with each era leaving its own mark on it.
Rafał Gurowski’s wooden nave
For a long time, the largest part of the church was the wooden nave. In 1760, Rafał Gurowski, then the starost of Koło, financed the reconstruction of the building. As part of the work, the western wall of the Romanesque church was demolished and a spacious nave of log-frame construction, with two porches, was added. In the 19th century, the wooden section was extended, and at the beginning of the 20th century, further elements were added near the entrance. This resulted in a very picturesque complex. The small, 12th-century stone chancel harmonised with the large, 18th-century wooden nave. Inside, one could see valuable furnishings: a Rococo high altar with a painting of Our Lady of Częstochowa, two Baroque side altars, an 18th-century painting of St Roch, and a holy water font dating from 1771. The church survived in this form until the last decade of the 20th century.
St Andrew’s Church in Kościelec – a major reconstruction
In 1990, the most significant phase of reconstruction in the church’s history, spanning over 800 years, began. The project was initiated by the parish priest, Father Stanisław Kurant, who had been associated with Kościelec since 1963. Following his death in 1998, the work was continued by Father Władysław Waszak. As part of this project, the 18th-century wooden nave was dismantled, and in its place a new brick structure began to take shape, which was subsequently covered with a gable roof. According to the parish history, construction of the nave and work on the interior took place between 2003 and 2009. Two bell towers were also erected next to the church. The complex was complemented by a lower section featuring carved façades. On 25 September 2011, the church was consecrated by Bishop Wiesław Mering. The name of the architect responsible for the design of the extension is not publicly known. Parish sources, however, emphasise the financial commitment of the parish community and successive parish priests.
The new brick structure raises concerns
It is the modern nave that raises the greatest objections today. Its scale clearly dominates the 12th-century chancel, and its simple brick form does not directly reflect Romanesque proportions or the wooden structure. At the time of its demolition, the latter was several hundred years old and was in itself a priceless part of the church. It is therefore surprising that anyone granted permission for the removal of the historic nave. Admittedly, the oldest part of the church has been preserved, but its surroundings have been completely transformed. From the outside, it is difficult today to make out the former layout.
St Andrew’s Church in Kościelec – what remains?
Today, the church is an unusual blend of several eras. The oldest part is the stone Romanesque section dating from the mid-12th century; next comes the brick sacristy and treasury from around 1601, 18th-century furnishings, and the modern nave. The greatest and most regrettable loss is the removal of the wooden nave funded by Rafał Gurowski. If the extension of the building was necessary, could it not have been carried out with greater respect for history? The modernisation of the church continues to provoke controversy and raise questions about the justification for such far-reaching interference with a historic monument.
Source:naszapolska.pl, zabytek.pl, parafiakoscielec.com
