Proboszczowie w Skwierzynie w latach 1768−1920
The Parish Priests in Skwierzyna (Schwerin/ Warthe) in 1768−1920 Years

Summary/Abstract: The article presents the profiles of parish priests in Skwierzyna (Schwerin/ Warthe) in the years 1768−1920. They were, in turn, Christian Szmitt (1768−1819), Cistercian Lawrence Franke (1820−1840), Franz Pawelke (1842−1876), Anton Gaertig (1886−1890) and Albert Hannemann (1891−1927). In the years 1876−1886 the parish was vacant due to Kulturkampf. Franke, Pawelke, Gaertig and Hannemann were German, but only Pawelke did not speak Polish, and Hannemann had a fairly mediocre knowledge of Polish; the rest spoke Polish to such an extent that they were able to preach and confess. We do not know what nationality Szmitt was — he knew both Polish and German, both correctly. In Skwierzyna, where in the 19th century the majority of Germans lived, knowledge of Polish was hardly needed. In terms of managing the parish, Szmitt was quite passive, he could not cope with the reconstruction of the parish church, which fell into disrepair during the Napoleonic Wars. Franke led to a makeshift reconstruction of the church. Pawelke, who managed the reconstruction and partial rebuilding of the church, gave it a neo-Gothic decor. Gaertig had been in the parish for too short a time to register anything. Hannemann proved to be an active shepherd soul.

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