Lost in time after the Warsaw Uprising, Kościół pw. Stygmatów św. Franciszka whispers tales of resilience. This is the Church of St. Francis. It stands in Warsaw’s New Town. Though seemingly ageless, the Franciscans arrived here relatively late in 1646. They were invited by King Władysław IV Vasa’s chaplain.
Jakub Sosnowski and Zygmunt Wybranowski decided to build a church. The king agreed in 1645. Bishop Andrzej Szołdrski issued a license in 1646. A small wooden church was first erected. It had chapels dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St. Anthony.
Tragedy struck during the Swedish invasion. The church burned but was rebuilt in 1662-1663. By 1679, a foundation stone marked the start of a new church. Giovanni Battista Ceroni designed it. Only the presbytery and chapel of Our Lady of Consolation were built until 1708.
Construction resumed in 1713. Karol Bay modified Ceroni’s design. Józef Fontana and his son Jakub managed the construction. In 1737, Bishop Stanislaus Hosius consecrated the church. It was dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi.
Jakub Fontana designed a rococo fence for the cemetery in 1744-1745. Giuseppe Boretti reconstructed the facade in 1788. The monastery saw hard times in the 19th century. It served as a prison and orphanage. After the January Uprising in 1864, the monastery closed. The church became a place of worship for Catholics in the Russian army.
From 1940 to 1941, the church stood at the edge of the Warsaw Ghetto. During the Warsaw Uprising, bombs struck the church. Forty people died. Side walls and the altar of St. Anthony survived. The pulpit was reconstructed. Many baroque elements were saved.
The first post-war mass was held in January 1945. Renovation lasted for years. Like other Warsaw churches, the Church of St. Francis suffered in World War II. However, many valuable objects were preserved.
Andreas Schlüter and Bartłomiej Bernatowicz contributed sculptures. Claude Callot created paintings. The choir features Michael Willmann’s “Christ in Gethsemane.” It came from the Lubiąż Abbey.
The main altar was recreated from 1973 to 1983. It uses parts of the old altar. Matthias Kargena’s painting “Stygmatyzacja św. Franciszka” is in the middle.
The altar of St. Anthony has a painting by Matthias Kargena too. The altar of the Holy Cross holds a crucifix attributed to Andreas Schlüter. Side altars display paintings of St. Joseph and the Last Supper.
Epitaphs honor Constantine Francis Mokronowski and Ladislaus Grzegorzewski. The current organ was built in 1925. Enrico Marconi designed its baroque style. Funded by the faithful, it was initiated by Father Florian Koziura.
The Church of St. Francis stands. It is a testament to faith and art. It survived war and upheaval. Its walls hold stories of devotion. Take a moment to appreciate its enduring spirit.