Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Gardno

The church in Gardno, from the first half of the 13th century, is among the first stone buildings in Pomerania. It has a semicircular apse, granite ashlar and archaic, semicircular forms of openings, and the rebuilding of 1893 gave it neo-Romanesque features.

A Romanesque form with an apse

The nave consists of two rectangular parts, and the lower and narrower chancel is adjoined by a semicircular apse with a conch vault. Granite ashlar was used, and the gables were finished in brick. The main portal, pointed and with three steps, is in the west elevation, and two smaller, round-arched ones in the east elevation. In the apse three narrow, semicircular windows of their original form have survived. In 1893 the church was rebuilt in the neo-Romanesque spirit: new windows, gables and a cornice were built.

Ruin and rebuilding, sculptures in the museum

After the Second World War the damaged church was abandoned and fell into ruin. It was rebuilt in 1978, and on 9 May 1978 it was blessed by Bishop Jerzy Stroba. The interior is covered by a wooden beam ceiling, at the back is a wooden gallery, and a wide chancel arch joins the nave to the chancel. Of the earlier furnishings a stone altar and a late medieval tabernacle in the form of a niche in the east wall of the chancel have survived. Two wooden sculptures of the enthroned Madonna and Child from around 1260 and 1300, coming from this church, went in 1956 to the National Museum in Szczecin.

Nearby

About 3 kilometres further on stands the church in Wełtyń, and about 6 km from Gardno lies Lake Binowo.

Practical information

• Address: Żelisławiecka 16 Street, Gardno (Gryfino municipality, Gryfino County).
• Church entered in the heritage register, dated to the first half of the 13th century.
• No fixed visiting hours have been established; check service times with the parish.