St. Mary Magdalene Church

The first church located in this area was built at the end of the 11th century and was elevated to the rank of a parish church by the bishop of Wrocław, Wawrzyniec. It was after the church of St. Wojciech, which was the first parish church in the city, was handed over. According to some sources, instead of the older church, a Romanesque church of St. Andrew the Apostle and St. Mary Magdalene was built and completed in 1232, but it was destroyed during the Mongol invasion in 1241. A new church, possibly in the Romanesque-Gothic transitional style, was constructed between 1242-1248. After a fire that occurred on May 8, 1342, it was decided to build a new, larger, and late-gothic church using many older fragments.

The basilica church does not have a transept and features a six-bay nave and a straight closed chancel without an ambulatory. On the north side, a two-story sacristy adjoins the presbytery. The naves are cross-rib vaulted, the presbytery features a stellar design, and the extended aisles next to it are tripartite. The buttresses are located high above the roofs of the aisles. The overall architectural design of the church is likely influenced by the cathedral that was completed during this period, especially the wider spans of the presbytery built by master Pieszka, reminiscent of the central span of the cathedral. The church has a total length of 62.8 meters and its width is 32.1 meters, with the height of the main nave walls at 22.9 meters and the side walls at 9.4 meters.

The towers of the church were completed in the 15th century. In 1459, the Bridge of Witches (Penitents) connecting the towers at the height of the top floor was mentioned for the first time. In 1481, the conical helmets covered with lead sheet were completed. The first bell was hung on September 1, 1358, and from 1386, the south tower housed the Sinner Bell cast by Michael Wilde, which was the largest bell in Silesia with a circumference of 6.30 meters and an inside height of 1.80 meters. It took 37 seconds to swing and was used during the greatest feast. The main portal features a sculpture made in 1440 that depicts the patroness of the church. In 1447, another sculpture was added, depicting Christ and Mary. In the 15th and 16th centuries, chapels were erected surrounding the church. In 1546, the Romanesque main portal was moved from the demolished abbey church in Ołbin and was embedded in the southern facade of the church. By 1512, the church had 16 chapels and 58 altars.

The Church of Mary Magdalene in Silesia has a rich history dating back to October 23, 1523, when Johannes Heß preached the first Evangelical sermon in the church. Despite opposition from the cathedral chapter, Heß soon became the church's pastor, and the church was converted into a Protestant church under the ownership of the city council.

In the years that followed, the church underwent various renovations and modifications, including the removal of the weakened cupola from the tower of St. Elizabeth, the construction of new copper-covered helmets with Renaissance forms, and the addition of new bells. The facades of the church were plastered, and the interior was significantly altered by the addition of galleries and the construction of a new organ front.

On March 23, 1887, a fire caused by fireworks during the celebration of Emperor Wilhelm I's 90th birthday destroyed the north tower, along with the Turkish Bells. Under public pressure, the tower was reconstructed to its original Gothic form in the years 1890-1892. The interior of the church was also regothicized, with a new organ front replacing the previous one, and the Renaissance sgraffito plaster was removed from the facade.

During the last days of World War II, the church suffered significant damage, including the loss of its towers and roof in a fire and the destruction of valuable sculptures in an explosion. The church was provisionally secured in 1947 and underwent complete reconstruction in the years 1960-1970, when it was handed over to Polish Catholics. The discovery of fragments of an older temple from the 19th century was made during the restoration works carried out in the years 1960-1963.

Today, the Church of Mary Magdalene still has some remnants of its rich history, including a Renaissance pulpit from 1579-1581, a restored roof with traditional colored tiles, and a preserved Renaissance pulpit. Plans for the reconstruction of the Renaissance helmets are underway. Evangelical services were held in the sacristy until 1948.