Basilica and Cathedral of St Stanisław Kostka in Łódź

The Basilica and Cathedral of St Stanisław Kostka at Piotrkowska 265 is the tallest building in Łódź: its tower measures 104.5 metres. The Neo-Gothic church built of light facing brick and sandstone was constructed between 1901 and 1912, and its three-nave form was modelled on the cathedral in Ulm. Since 1920 it has been the seat of the bishops of Łódź.

From the 1898 competition to the tower dedication

The church was designed by a Łódź building company, and its design was improved by architects from Warsaw and Kraków. The competition held in 1898 was won by the firm "Wende i Zarske", run by Johannes Wende and Adolf Zarski, working with Emil Zillmann. The drawings were later revised by Józef Dziekoński and Sławomir Odrzywolski. The building committee, formed in 1895, consisted of the largest Łódź manufacturers: Juliusz Heinzel, Edward Herbst, Juliusz Kunitzer, Józef Richter and Adolf Hoffrichter.

The building site was consecrated on 19 May 1901, and the foundation stone was laid on 16 June of the same year. The parish was established on 1 January 1909; in 1912 three altars and the organ were consecrated, but there was no money for the tower. It was completed only after regaining independence: the dedication took place on 9 October 1927.

Cathedral, then minor basilica

The church was elevated twice in the space of seventy years. On 10 December 1920 Pope Benedict XV established the Łódź diocese and raised the church to the status of cathedral; it was consecrated on 15 October 1922 by Bishop Wincenty Tymieniecki. In 1989 John Paul II granted the church the title of minor basilica, and following the reorganisation of church structures in 1992 the building became a cathedral basilica. The pope himself visited it on 13 June 1987, and in 2000 his monument was unveiled at the entrance. The building is entered in the heritage register under number A/112 of 20 January 1971.

What remained after the 1971 fire

Today's interior furnishings were largely created following a fire from fifty years ago. On 11 May 1971 at around 18.20 fire destroyed the cathedral roof within a few hours, damaged the vaults, organ and main altar. The church was reopened in December 1972. New organs were built by the German company Eisenbarth from Passau: a large instrument with 58 stops, four manuals and pedal keyboard was put into use in 1978. New stained glass windows were made in 1975, but older windows also remain in the presbytery, by the workshop of S. G. Żeleński from 1927 and by Helena Bożyk from the early 1960s. The interior was designed by Viennese architect Zygfryd Stern.

The bishops' crypt and the years of occupation

Beneath the sacristy is a burial crypt of four bishops of Łódź. It was created in the mid-1930s, and in September 1936 the body of Bishop Wincenty Tymieniecki was placed in it. Also buried there are Włodzimierz Jasiński, Michał Klepacz and Józef Rozwadowski.

During German occupation the cathedral ceased to function as a place of worship. On 9 November 1941 it was plundered by the Gestapo and converted into a military warehouse, and mushroom cultivation was set up in the basement. In 2011 the bell "Heart of Łódź" weighing approximately 2500 kilograms was hung here.

Practical information

• Address: Piotrkowska 265; the church stands directly on the street, and the tower is visible from afar, serving as a landmark for this part of the city.
• What to expect: a three-nave interior on the plan of a Latin cross with a double transept, Neo-Gothic altars, pulpit, stained glass windows from various periods and numerous commemorative plaques. The bishops' crypt is open to visitors.
• This is an active parish church and cathedral, so visits should be fitted around services. Current opening times should be checked before your visit on the parish website.