Where is my home? This—not an entirely simple—question is also the opening words of the Czech national anthem (Kde domov můj?). If these are the words of an anthem, they must be important words. For all nations, regardless of origin, home is an extremely important thing.
When we are far from home, we then recognize its true value. It is not only a place, but above all, people. Close relationships, everyday matters, and small and larger conflicts.
A small town in Lower Silesia. Small, but charming. Possessing its own atmosphere and allure. Existing for eight centuries already. The land in question is marked by wonderful moments of prosperity, hard work, and blood shed on battlefields, often in fratricidal conflicts between German nations (the Silesian Wars).
Nowogrodziec is my home. The home to which I often return. Each time, I become aware of the immense value of this wonderful place. Although at first glance the town seems unremarkable, it is a place with a special history. The former German Naumburg am Queis can be counted among the oldest towns in Lower Silesia and Poland. The town was founded under German law in 1233. Złotoryja is older than Nowogrodziec, but Bolesławiec (1251), Legnica (1253), and even Gdańsk (1236) and Malbork (1286) are younger.
Although the small town was heavily damaged during World War II, it has many valuable historic monuments. Its three churches are symbols of the town on the Kwisa. The churches have their secrets and magnificent architectural character. They are worth mentioning, if only because not all of them survived the turmoil of war. Fortunately, they were captured for posterity in photographs. I would like to present some of them today.
The most imposing church in Nowogrodziec is the Church of Saints Apostles Peter and Paul. We can see the majestic building when entering the town from any direction. The greatest impression is made when we see the church from the direction of Zebrzydowa. Built on a hill, together with the ruins of the Magdalene Sisters’ Convent and the defensive wall surrounding the convent, it is Nowogrodziec’s most valuable historic monument. The parish church was built in 1788–1793. The tower, however, dates from 1879–1880. Its construction was supervised by the royal building councillor from Bolesławiec [Zob. M. Olczak i Z. Abramowicz, Nowogrodziec, dzieje miasta i okolic do roku 1945, Warszawa 2000].
Some time ago, I came across two beautiful postcards depicting the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. The first postcard is especially valuable to me because it shows the interior of the church. The photograph dates from 1922. In the foreground, we can see the chancel with the altar. The chancel is separated from the rest of the church by a balustrade (now no longer in existence); immediately behind it are two rows of pews, also not preserved to this day.
Another postcard (1927) depicts the church from the perspective of today’s Kościelna Street. On both sides is the former urban development, preserved only in part. When we look at the photograph, in the foreground we see the slender tower built of sandstone. The postcard is a valuable memento. It shows us magnificent architecture, but also the former residents of Naumburg am Queis.
An exceptionally interesting historic monument, with a certain air of mystery, was the so-called Cemetery Church, also known as the Church of the Vow or the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The history of this church begins as early as 1527, when a terrible epidemic struck Nowogrodziec.
Terrified by the effects of the epidemic, the residents decided to make a vow that they would build a church in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They also undertook that on the eve of the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that is, on November 21, they would pray fervently and do penance for their sins, and the following day they would receive Holy Communion. These observances were preceded by a procession from the parish church to the Church of the Presentation.
My collection also contains a postcard showing this church from inside. It is a true gem, a wonderful memento of a church that cost the residents many sacrifices—both financial and in the form of hard work. The first church was completed in 1657, but burned down as early as 1766. Once again, the residents undertook the effort of building a church; this took place in 1773–1776. The second church survived until 1945.
The Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was a single-nave building with a tower on the west side. It had seven windows and four entrances. One main entrance was located beneath the tower. The pews for worshippers were arranged in two rows. The 85 pews could seat 670 worshippers for communal prayer. In a niche in the church tower stood a statue of Our Lady, Queen of Heaven. Three bells, cast in 1776 and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, and Saint Sebastian, hung in the church tower. The postcard shows the church interior in detail. In the background we can see the altar, while the entire church is surrounded by a gallery (a type of mezzanine) supported by pillars.
Only the outline of the walls remains of the church, making every memento of this exceptional sacred building—especially for its former residents—all the more valuable. The surviving postcard is the only photograph showing the interior of the church.
Nowogrodziec is also home to a former Evangelical church. Unfortunately, it has not survived to our times in its original form. It no longer serves a religious purpose. Until recently, the church building housed a gymnasium. The church is now to be adapted for artistic and cultural purposes. This will presumably be a more dignified function for a historic sacred building.
The “Red Church,” as the former church is called, was opened on November 10, 1886. Although the church lost its original function, it nevertheless survived. Other Evangelical churches in the area were not so fortunate; they were completely destroyed during the war or looted after it ended. We can admire the interior of the “Red Church” (1908) on a postcard.
The history of Nowogrodziec’s three churches is very interesting. The most fascinating are the postcards, which show us perfectly what these buildings looked like. The photograph of the Church of the Presentation is especially valuable. The church no longer exists. This makes it all the more worth our attention.
Lower Silesia is a special region. Never in history has such a large-scale migration of people taken place. On the one hand, pre-war Naumburg am Queis lost its former character. Its former residents experienced the immense tragedy of expulsion and the loss of their homes. They were “torn from their roots” in the land they had inhabited for hundreds of years. As heirs to this great legacy of the past, we are obliged to care for the future—for ourselves and for future generations.
Paweł Skiersinis
The author is a blogger and history enthusiast, particularly interested in the history of Lower Silesia and Poland. Why Lower Silesia? As he himself says: “Why not? The most interesting history is the history around us, concerning us and our ancestors.”
And he adds: “I try to present history from a different perspective, in an interesting way, not in a typically textbook style filled with dry dates and facts. The articles I present concern facts that we will not find in textbooks and well-known publications. The history of Lower Silesia is undoubtedly interesting and fascinating, so it is sometimes worth devoting even a short while to it.”