Since 2017, All Saints’ Church at Grzybowski Square in Warsaw has been undergoing a comprehensive renovation, the next stage of which is the restoration of the western arcade and part of the front elevation. This huge undertaking is co-financed by the City of Warsaw.
Thanks to city subsidies, a number of works have already been carried out, including the repair of insulation in the lower church, the renovation of the interior of the presbytery and the restoration of the western nave, together with the conservation of side altars such as the altar of St Anthony and the altar with the statue of Christ blessing the world.
For the past three years, intensive work has been done on the façade of the church. The restoration included the repair and conservation of the towers – both east and west – and the pediment (tympanum). The arcaded portico on the east side and the west arcade together with the lower part of the façade were also restored. Some of the work was of a salvage nature due to fragments of the façade falling off, but the priority was also to restore the church to its former glory. The original appearance of the plasterwork, stucco and sculptures was restored.
This year, work continues on damp proofing and repairing and restoring the walls and vaults of the arcade. Cleaning and repair of masonry, restoration of stucco elements and their partial reconstruction are being carried out. The plastered and putty surfaces are being painted with silicone lime paints and then protected with water repellent. The window and door frames are also being restored, and the grilles are also being conserved. In addition, the roof covering is being replaced and flashings are being carried out. The city has awarded a grant of PLN 400,000 for this stage of work.
All Saints’ Church, built between 1861 and 1893 to a design by Henryk Marconi, is a monumental example of neoclassical architecture, designed on a Latin cross plan. For many decades it was the largest church in Warsaw. During World War II, the church was located within the ghetto and played a key role in helping Jews, organising, among other things, the transfer of people to the Aryan side. The temple suffered severe damage during the Warsaw Uprising and its reconstruction took many years, with work only completed in the 1970s.
This phase of restoration is scheduled to be completed in early December 2024.
Source: UM Warszawa
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Renovation | Monument | Sacred architecture | Warsaw
