St. Mary's Church, Stargard Szczecinski
Encyclopedia
The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the World in Stargard Szczeciński
is perhaps the most valuable architectural monument in Polish
Western Pomerania. It closes the eastern part of the Old Town Market.
The oldest known mention of the Church's existence is from writings in the year 1248. The bishop of Kamień Pomorski, having returned Stargard to Duke Barnim I, stipulated his law to the church.
The Church, in a quickly developing Stargard, became too small for regular attendants. In 1292, construction started on a new and more impressive place of worship.
In this phase, the Church had a three nave structure, with all nave
s of equal height. The Church had no tower then. In the period from 1388 to about 1500, the last expansion of the structure emerged with the construction of the Presbytery
and towers.
Stargard Szczecinski
Stargard Szczeciński is a city in northwestern Poland, with a population of 71,017 . Situated on the Ina River it is the capital of Stargard County and since 1999 has been in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship; prior to that it was in the Szczecin Voivodeship...
is perhaps the most valuable architectural monument in Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
Western Pomerania. It closes the eastern part of the Old Town Market.
History
The oldest known mention of the Church's existence is from writings in the year 1248. The bishop of Kamień Pomorski, having returned Stargard to Duke Barnim I, stipulated his law to the church.
The Church, in a quickly developing Stargard, became too small for regular attendants. In 1292, construction started on a new and more impressive place of worship.
In this phase, the Church had a three nave structure, with all nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
s of equal height. The Church had no tower then. In the period from 1388 to about 1500, the last expansion of the structure emerged with the construction of the Presbytery
Presbytery (architecture)
The presbytery is the name for an area in a church building which is reserved for the clergy.In the oldest church it is separated by short walls, by small columns and pilasters in the Renaissance ones; it can also be raised, being reachable by a few steps, usually with railings....
and towers.