Annals of University of Life Sciences – SGGW Horticulture and Landscape Architecture No 36, 2015: 71–92 (Ann. Warsaw Univ. Life Sci. – SGGW, Horticult. Landsc. Architect. 36, 2015)

The church garden as an element shaping the quality of city life – a case study in southern Warsaw MAàGORZATA KACZYēSKA*, DOROTA SIKORA Department of Landscape Art, Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW

Abstract: The church garden as an element Key words: garden, church, churchyard, quality shaping the quality of city life – a case study in of life, Warsaw southern Warsaw. The aim of the research was to identify the forms of presently existing gardens INTRODUCTION surrounding sacral buildings in the city, to verify how the presence of these gardens improves the State of knowledge quality of life, and to determine whether their model as shaped in the medieval period is still Sacral buildings located in a city are current. The research covered the gardens of 22 churches within the southern Warsaw deaner- often surrounded by designed green ar- ies of Wilanów, SáuĪew and Ursynów. The con- eas. Churchyards perform the role of a tribution of the analyzed sacral complexes to transitional zone between the Sacred of improvement of the inhabitants’ quality of life is a temple and the Profane of an inhabited revealed in several of their functions: as histori- area. They are often garden composi- cally shaped spaces of prayer and contemplation, tions consisting of lawns, À ower-beds, important for spiritual life; as biologically active areas, increasing the biological potential of the shrubs, trees, and elements of symbolic city; as recreational areas; and as city landscape meaning such as Stations of the Cross, dominants building a local identity. The results memorials, shrines, votive crosses or show that the majority of the analyzed church ¿ gures of [Mitkowska and Siew- gardens serve as meeting places for local inhabit- niak 1998]. They are used as a place ants. Within most of the complexes, biologically of celebration of some church services active space accounts for 50–60% of the total. [Mitkowska and Siewniak 1998], parish Nearly half of the complexes are spatially con- nected with other natural areas. Furnishings of the fairs and festivities [Nadrowski 2008]. church gardens are similar to those of other city They are also places where people can green areas – benches, lanterns and À ower-pots calm down and concentrate before en- are the most frequent. A pathway encircling the tering the church, and so they should church, used during processions, is found within be laid out so as to favor the creation of the majority of the complexes, although often the such an atmosphere [StĊpieĔ 1982 and pathway systems are more developed. Sculptural Nadrowski 2008]. The authors assume and small architectonic elements related to reli- gious symbolism occur within nearly half of the that church gardens located within dense complexes. urban developments are also valuable resources of biologically active areas, * e-mail: [email protected] which, despite their usually small size, 72 M. KaczyĔska, D. Sikora improve the quality of life in the city. M. SzafraĔska [1998]. The vegetation of Green urban areas, even those of small European medieval gardens, including size, can improve the microclimate and cloister gardens, is discussed in works favor well-being [Forsyth and Musac- by P. Hobhouse [1997] and M. Milecka chio 2005, Mega 2010]. Church gar- [2009, 2012]. dens may be an example of such areas at Church gardens are less frequently neighborhood level. Areas surrounding discussed in the literature. Worthy of sacral buildings nowadays perform new mention are numerous publications on functions related to recreation and edu- English churchyards located both in cation: they may contain playgrounds the countryside and in the urban land- for children, secular displays and exhibi- scape. These provide information on tions, aviaries, and Christmas cribs with the churchyard’s form and its evolution, real animals. Information about such plant selection and social use, in both new activities can be found on many historical and contemporary contexts. parishes’ websites and journals. All of Recent publications refer to modern this proves that church gardens can be approaches to churchyard care and em- valuable sites in the urban landscape, phasize a growing recognition of their important for different groups of local biodiversity value. Examples of such inhabitants. publications include those of N. Cooper Generally, the subject of gardens [1995, 1996, 2001, 2012] and M. Child surrounding sacral buildings in [2007]. Among recent noteworthy pub- and Central Europe is not frequently ad- lications in Poland are “The sacral gar- dressed in scholarly works. Usually, the den – the idea and the reality” [Kozakie- issue of gardens is mentioned in publica- wicz-Opaáka et al. 2008], which contains tions dealing with the larger urban con- articles dealing with cloister and church text of the temple. An exception is clois- gardens, and “The Sacred in the histori- ters, whose gardens are well described cal gardens and the symbolism of their in the literature, usually with regard to vegetation” [Mitkowska and Siewniak the historical aspect. The principles of 1997], which contains articles dealing the composition of European cloister with green areas surrounding pilgrim- gardens have been described by P. Hob- age sanctuaries. Many sacral buildings house [2000] and E. Barlow Rogers and their garden surroundings, espe- [2001]. The monastery garden is also the cially historical monuments, have been subject of a publication by W. Braunfels described in monographs. An example [1993]. The symbolism of the Paradise of such a publication is one devoted garden and its representations on Earth to the church in SáuĪew (Warsaw) and are analyzed by J. Delumeau [1996]. its surroundings [Soátan-Lipska 2013]. The principles of composition of Polish There appear to be no scholarly publica- cloister gardens are discussed by G. Cio- tions describing the church gardens and áek [1954], L. Majdecki [1981], J. Bog- cloister gardens of southern Warsaw in danowski [2000], M. Milecka [2009] and a comprehensive manner. The chuch garden as an element shaping... 73

Historical forms of layout of church not allowed to possess their own land surroundings “except necessary terrain next to the cloister building, which could be exclu- Churches and cloisters have been im- sively used as a garden” [Cioáek 1954]. portant elements of the urban landscape The cloister garden was always the most since medieval times. Their architecton- important symbolic space. It represented ic form and their towers dominating the the idea of the celestial Paradise which city skyline have been a visual mark of was to be reached through contempla- the substantial role played by the Church tion. The symbolism of a square, the in the process of civilization. In the Mid- number four (rivers of Paradise, evan- dle Ages, principles were established gelists, cardinal virtues) contained in the concerning the shaping of the surround- cloister garden and elements like wells ings of the Christian sacral building, as or fountains favored comprehension and well as models of its location in the ur- contemplation of the religious content. ban structure. These models were copied The cloister garden was also used by the in the following centuries. monks as a place of recreation, to exer- The functional program of the clois- cise both body and mind. This tradition ters, which included also gardens, origi- may have been transferred from the gar- nated from the idea of the Roman cas- den courtyards in the antique gymnasi- trum and villa, and its principles were ums [SzafraĔska 1999]. The medieval clearly presented in the drawing of the cloister was almost self-suf¿ cient. Its model plan of the Benedictine abbey well-developed economic and educa- in Sankt Gallen [D’Alfonso and Samss tional program, including also horticul- 1997]. This program included a clois- ture, enabled it to provide food for both ter garden, a herbaceous garden, used monks and pilgrims. Cloister schools both for curative and culinary purposes, also widely promoted effective forms of a cemetery and an orchard, which occu- cultivation, partially taking advantage pied the same area, and a vegetable gar- of the antique literature preserved in the den connected to the gardener’s house. cloister libraries [Böhm 1994]. Sometimes the whole cloister was called In the medieval period also parish a garden, in reference to Paradise, and the terrain of some Orthodox cloisters churches, especially cathedrals, acquired was entirely planted with fruit trees, pro- a proper setting for their rank and func- viding “redemption fruits” [SzafraĔska tion – a square, which referred to the 1999]. In forti¿ ed cities, where space antique forum [D’Alfonso and Samss was lacking, this program was reduced, 1997]. This can also be seen in the as can be seen in the cloisters of men- modern churchyards surrounding sacral dicant and preacher orders such as the buildings. In the vicinity of many medi- Franciscans, Dominicans and Poor eval churches, mostly behind the apse, Clares, who according to their monas- places called paradise were established. tic rule were obliged to settle in densely They served to cultivate À owers to deco- populated zones. Until 1237 they were rate the altars, holy statues and shrines 74 M. KaczyĔska, D. Sikora

[Barlow Rogers 2011]. Cathedrals, even bars. The form Ordo visitationis from those located within dense urban de- the early 15th century indicates that it velopments, often had a cloister garden was important to “be able to distinguish [StĊpieĔ 1982]. the sacred from the non-sacred” [Bis and In in the medieval period Bis 2013]. a churchyard was open to almost any It was the Edict of Nantes of 1777 kind of event. Parish activities taking that ¿ rst forbade burial within the place within the churchyard depended churchyard for sanitary reasons and or- on the who held it in freehold, and dered the necropolis to be established usually fostered activities from which he outside the city borders. After France, might supplement his income. Certain similar regulations were also introduced parts of the ceremonies associated with in other countries, including Poland. baptism, marriage and burial began in These changes resulted in the transfor- the churchyard. Itinerant merchants set mation of former church cemeteries into up their stalls beside the church. Strol- designed green areas, where apart from ling players, mummers and musicians ornamental trees and shrubs, Stations of performed and miracle plays took place. the Cross, votive crosses, holy statues There were also many children’s church- and representations of the grotto of Our yard games. Medieval churchyards were Lady of Lourdes were located. Often busy at most times, but the highlights the churchyard contains old trees (e.g. were fairs and feast days. Dancing and elms and limes in English churchyards), games took place within the churchyard, the majority of them planted along the although people respected the south part boundaries and marking clear borders where the majority of the graves were of the churchyard within the landscape located, and con¿ ned themselves to the [Cooper 2012]. In the mid-19th century, north side [Child 2007]. to promote the appropriate spiritual at- Churches and their surroundings mosphere in churchyards, John Claudius were also used for centuries as burial Loudon advocated formal designs with places. This led to the establishment of a somber tone of evergreens and a vertical cemeteries within churchyards. The fact theme provided by fastigiated Irish yew that the areas were considered sacred and Monterey cypresses [Cooper 2012]. ground protected them from being built over. For both symbolic and practical MATERIAL AND METHODS reasons they were permanently fenced. The aim of the research was to identify The obligatory fencing of the necropolis the forms of presently existing gardens was regulated by both medieval and lat- surrounding the sacral buildings in the er synods. The synod in in 1512 city, to verify how the presence of these required a cemetery to be surrounded gardens improves the quality of life, and with walls, a wooden fence or a ditch. to determine whether the model shaped The 1538 synod in Cheámno required for such gardens in the medieval period cemetery gates with wooden or iron is still current. The research covered the The chuch garden as an element shaping... 75 gardens surrounding 22 parish churches century. Its spatial composition is based within three deaneries of southern War- on the historical road system of the pre- saw (those of Wilanów, SáuĪew and viously existing rural area. Although, Ursynów) and their landscape context a great part of the landscape is occupied (Table 1, Fig. 1). by relatively new housing estates, the The urban landscape of southern War- spatial complexes of former villages saw was shaped mostly from the 1970s with their internal road systems are still to the 1990s and at the start of the 21st preserved. The analyzed area reÀ ects

TABLE 1. List of analyzed sacral buildings and gardens No Name of sacral building with garden Wilanów deanery Church of St. the Betrothed to the Mary (St. Stephan the King in Sielce parish) 1 Sisters of Nazareth convent 2 Church of St. Casmir the Prince in Sielce (Resurrectionist Congregation) 3 Sanctuary of Our Lady Teacher of Youths (Our Lady Queen of the Believers parish) Churches of St. Antonio of Padua and St. John of Dukla (St. Boniface in Czerniaków parish) 4 Bernadine cloister 5 Church of St. Thaddeus the Apostle 6 Church of St. Antonio Maria Zaccaria (Barnabite Fathers parish) 7 Church of St. Anna 8 Temple of God’s Providence 9 Church of the Mission of the Lord’s Disciples SáuĪew deanery 10 Church of Our Lady Mother of Mercy (congregation of Marianist Brothers and parish) 11 Church of St. 12 Church of St. Dominique and Dominican cloister 13 Church of the of the Virgin Mary (St. Catherine parish) 14 Church of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, Sacred Heart of Jesus convent 15 Church of SS Peter and Paul the Apostles Ursynów deanery 16 Church of the Lord’s Ascension 17 Church of Blessed Edmund Bojanowski 18 Church of St. 19 Lord’s Offertory church 20 Church of Blessed Ladislas of Gielniow 21 Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina 22 Sanctuary of Our Lady Longing (St. Elisabeth parish) Note that in the following tables the same numbering is used, to avoid repeating the church names. 76 M. KaczyĔska, D. Sikora

FIGURE 1. Map showing the areas examined in their urban context. Churches are marked with num- bers as in Table 1. Based on maps of Warsaw deaneries available at http://koscioly.warszawa.pl/ a process of city development through verify which historical patterns are still incorporation of the rural area with ex- present in the analyzed gardens. The isting historical parish churches into the next stage consisted of an on-site inven- city boundaries and establishment of new tory of the gardens’ compositional ele- urban housing estates with new parish ments: forms of vegetation, small archi- churches meeting the needs of new com- tectonic elements, sculptural details and munities. Therefore, the selected case pathway system, aimed at recognizing study provides an opportunity to analyze the present spatial structure of the gar- church gardens of different scale, church dens. This made it possible to determine rank, time of origin, and layout. the gardens’ artistic, spatial and symbol- The research included a literature ic values. review and collection of data by means The research also included estima- of on-site inventory and observations. tion of the biologically active area of The ¿ rst stage was a literature review the gardens (expressed as a percentage) aimed at recognizing the historical form based on analysis of aerial photographs, of the layout of a church’s surroundings, on-site recognition of the diversity of its typical elements, its further evolu- forms of vegetation, and identi¿ cation tion, and signi¿ cance for the surround- of whether the gardens are related to ing landscape. This made it possible to wider green structures. It was aimed to The chuch garden as an element shaping... 77 determine the gardens’ ecological value. regression. The relations between sacral During the research, non-participant ob- complex area as well as biologically ac- servations in the gardens were carried tive area and existing forms of vegeta- out on week-days, on Sundays and dur- tion, garden social function, road sys- ing festivities, enabling the collection of tem, small architectonic and sculptural information on social activities taking elements were assessed using the Anova place in the gardens and on the use of Kruskal–Wallis test. Values of p <0.05 the garden space. The collected data was were considered statistically signi¿ cant. supplemented with information acquired from interviews with the priests and RESULTS from the parish websites, particularly regarding the gardens’ accessibility, use The church gardens of southern of the gardens during church services Warsaw and parish fairs, parishioners’ activities, The selected church gardens represent existing potential tourist attractions, and different scales, church ranks, times memorial sites of national signi¿ cance. of origin, and layouts. Some of them This made it possible to determine the belong to historical parishes (parish gardens’ social function and utility value. of Catherine in SáuĪew with the The present research did not involve church of the Immaculate Conception the adoption of a profound sociologi- of the Virgin Mary, 1238; Saint Anna in cal approach including the interviewing Wilanów, 13th century; Saint Elisabeth in of garden users or surveys; however, to Powsin with the Sanctuary of Our Lady identify the gardens’ value and meaning Longing, 1410). The presently existing for the parish communities, such research churches of these parishes replaced those should be conducted in the future. formerly existing and originating from The data collected during the litera- earlier times (church of the Immaculate ture review, on-site inventory and ob- Conception of the Virgin Mary, from the servations were classi¿ ed in terms of turn of the 14th and 15th centuries; church ¿ ve aspects: forms of social activities, of Saint Anna, 1772; Sanctuary of Our forms of vegetation and ecological role, Lady Longing, 1725). Some parishes types of architectonic elements, form were established in the vicinity of previ- and material of the pathway system, and ously existing cloister churches: types of symbolic elements. The calcu- Ɣ in Czerniaków (the lations were performed using MedCalc Bernadine cloister and church of software. Continuous variables (area of Saint Antonio of Padua, built in sacral complex, biologically active area) 1690–1693, founded by Stanisáaw were reported as medians with a range, Herakliusz Lubomirski); because they did not follow a normal Ɣ Saint Stephan the King in Sielce (the distribution. The relationship between church of the Betrothed sacral complex area and biologically to the Virgin Mary, built in 1926 by active area was assessed by Spearman the Sisters of Nazareth convent); 78 M. KaczyĔska, D. Sikora

Ɣ Saint Casmir the Prince in Sielce other types of parks, gardens and green (church built in 1932–1933 by the squares, are surfaces that are permeable Resurrectionist Congregation); to rainwater and take part in the in¿ ltra- Ɣ Saint Dominique in SáuĪew (clois- tion process. These areas, despite their ter built by the Dominicans in 1935, often fairly small size and lack of diver- church built in 1981–1994). sity of vegetation, can have an inÀ uence However, the majority of the de- on improvement in climatic conditions. scribed parishes were established after Research indicates that even a terrain World War II and in the second half of covered only by a lawn reduces the air the 20th century. Other parishes were temperature by at least 2.3°C compared established at the beginning of the 21st with an area of the same size without century. In some of them the parish a lawn, and increases the air humidity church has already been erected (the by 6–13% [Orzeszek-Gajewska 1984]. church dedicated to Blessed Edmund Small-size green areas in the city, church Bojanowski in Wolica, that of Saint gardens included, can also become habi- Antonio Maria Zaccaria in Stegny, and tats for insects and birds. Their ecologi- the Temple of God’s Providence in cal value increases if they are connected Wilanów), while in others only tempo- to the open area system of the city [For- rary chapels exist (those dedicated to the syth and Musacchio 2005]. Mission of the Lord’s Disciples in KĊpa To analyze the value of the gardens Zawadowska, and to Saint Pio of Piet- surrounding sacral buildings as part of relcina in Moczydáo). The analyzed area the system of urban green areas, the also contains, in western Wilanów, a following parameters were used: sacral sacral building of national signi¿ cance: complex area (ha), biologically active the Temple of God’s Providence. area (%), presence of old trees, orna- mental shrubs, À owerbeds, rosaries, lawns, low-growing plants, climbers, or- Value of church gardens as part of chards, vegetable and herb gardens, and the system of urban green areas relations of the garden with natural areas The gardens surrounding sacral build- (Table 2). All the analyzed sacral build- ings in cities are an important part of ings are surrounded by designed green the system of urban green areas. Usu- areas. Their size is diverse and ranges ally they are small biologically active from 0.21 ha up to 5.80 ha, while the size spaces surrounded by dense urban de- of the majority of the sacral complexes velopment. Despite their isolation and lies between 1 and 2 ha. In the majority small size, church gardens, like the of the complexes the biologically active other small-scale garden forms in the area covers 50–65% (9 churches) or 30– city such as pocket gardens, improve –45% (6 churches) of the whole terrain, the quality of life [Forsyth and Musac- while in four complexes it constitutes as chio 2005, Mega 2010]. The green areas much as 70–90% of the total area. Only surrounding sacral buildings, as well as in three complexes do green areas cover The chuch garden as an element shaping... 79

TABLE 2. Forms of vegetation Relation Biologi- Lawns, Sacral Orna- Flower- Vegetable of garden cally Old low- Climb- No complex mental beds, Orchards and herb with active area trees -growing ers area (ha) shrubs rosaries gardens natural (%) plants areas Wilanów deanery 1 1.20 40 + + + + + – + – 2 0.80 75 + + + + – – – + 3 1.00 50 + + + + – – – + 4 1.13 50 + + + + – – + – 5 0.21 15 – + + + – – – – 6 1.89 60 – + + + – – – – 7 0.50 64 + + – + – – – + 8 5.80 55* –+ – + – – – – 9 1.80 50* ×× × × × × × × SáuĪew deanery 10 1.10 42 – + + + – – – – 11 0.72 40 – + – + – – – – 12 4.3 80 + + + + + + + – 13 3.41 65 + + – + – + – + 14 1.9 70 + + + + + – + + 15 1.2 55 – + + + + + – – Ursynów deanery 16 1.17 18 – + – + – – – + 17 0.60 40 + ×××××× + 18 1.07 19 – + + + – – – – 19 0.70 64 – + + + – – + – 20 0.90 33 – + + + – – – + 21 0.80 37* –+ – + – – – – 22 3.31 90 + + + + – – – – * Approximate data for churches and gardens under construction. + presence of the element, – absence of the element, × garden under construction. less than 20% of the whole. The median the churchyard. The church and the of sacral complex area is 1.12 ha (0.21– of the trees create a visible architectonic –5.8 ha), while the biologically active and landscape dominant. Old trees are area accounts for about 50% (15–90%). a more common form of vegetation in The percentage of biologically active the case of larger biologically active ar- area of the church gardens correlates with eas – 64.5 (40–90)% vs. 40 (15–64)%, total complex area (r = 0.47, p = 0.028): p = 0.01. In all sacral complexes where the larger the sacral complex, the greater the church surroundings are already the biologically active area. Old trees are laid out, ornamental shrubs are planted. present in ten of the sacral complexes. In Coniferous species predominate, and the historical complexes they surround rhododendrons are also often present 80 M. KaczyĔska, D. Sikora

(the churches of SS Peter and Paul the ples are the Immaculate Conception of Apostles and of Blessed Ladislas of the Virgin Mary church garden (Saint Gielniow). Fourteen of the church gar- Catherine parish), the Blessed Edmund den compositions include À owerbeds Bojanowski church garden located on and rosaries. Usually they consist of the top of the Warsaw escarpment which seasonal À owers, and sometimes also constitutes a natural ecological corridor, contain plants related to Christian sym- and the garden surrounding the Sanctu- bolism, such as roses or lavender. The ary of Our Lady Teacher of Youths (Our À owerbeds often serve as decoration for Lady Queen of the Believers parish) lo- ¿ gures of Mary or votive crosses. Rarely cated in the vicinity of the riparian forest they constitute an independent composi- within the Vistula river valley. Exam- tion (Fig. 2). Climbers are not very com- ples of church gardens compositionally mon in church gardens, being recorded related to public parks are the garden at only four of the analyzed sites. of the church of St. Anna, connected to

FIGURE 2. Examples of plant compositions in gardens surrounding sacral buildings

All existent garden compositions the historical park in Wilanów, and the include lawns and low-growing plants garden of the Lord’s Ascension church, related to the modern John Paul II Park covering the ground. Orchards and us- and further to the structure of green ar- able gardens within the sacral complex eas in Ursynów. do not occur frequently (orchards were noted in three cases, vegetable and herb gardens in ¿ ve cases). They are estab- Contemporary social functions of lished in complexes belonging to con- church gardens vents (e.g. the garden belonging to the To analyze the social functions of the St. Dominique church and Dominican gardens, the occurrence of the follow- cloister). An orchard is also likely to be ing items was recorded: parish fairs, found in larger rather than smaller sacral festivities and concerts, leisure places, complexes – 3.41 (1.2–4.3) ha vs. 1.07 (0.21–5.8) ha, p = 0.044). Eight of the tourist attractions, playgrounds, pres- sacral complexes are spatially connected ence of animals, national memorial sites to other valuable natural areas. Exam- (Table 3). The contemporary function of The chuch garden as an element shaping... 81

TABLE 3. Social functions of gardens Parish fairs, Tourist Presence of National No festivities Leisure place Playgrounds attraction animals memorial site and concerts Wilanów deanery 1 –––––– 2 ++–––– 3 ++++–– 4 –++––+ 5 –––––– 6 –+–+–– 7 +++––– 8 +++––+ 9 –––––– SáuĪew deanery 10 –+–––– 11 –+–––– 12 +++––– 13 +++––+ 14 –+–––– 15 –+–––– Ursynów deanery 16 –––––– 17 –––––– 18 ––––+– 19 –+–––– 20 –+–++– 21 –+–––– 22 –++––– For symbols explanations see Table 2. the gardens surrounding sacral buildings Longing (St. Elisabeth parish), and also is inÀ uenced by many factors. Areas not next to cloisters, e.g. the Sacred Heart accessible to the public still perform of Jesus convent related to the church of the traditional function of a recreational St. Madeleine Sophie Barat. There are place for priests, monks and , or also church gardens accessible only to are also used for the cultivation of us- particular groups of users, such as pu- able plants and À owers and sometimes pils of the schools located in cloister for the raising of small livestock. Such buildings. An example is the Sisters of gardens exist near the clergy houses of Nazareth convent cloister related to the the church of the Immaculate Concep- church of St. Joseph the Betrothed to tion of the Virgin Mary (St. Catherine the Virgin Mary (St. Stephan the King parish) and the Sanctuary of Our Lady in Sielce parish), where the garden is 82 M. KaczyĔska, D. Sikora accessible to the nuns and their pupils. The gardens with relatively larger biolog- However, the majority of the analyzed ically active areas are likely to serve as gardens are open to the public. Usually local leisure places – 57.5 (33–90) % vs. they are used as a meeting place for lo- 29.5 (15–50) %, p = 0.005) and tourist cal residents during church services and attractions – 64 (50–90)% vs. 40 (15– festivities. Larger gardens also serve as a –75)%, p = 0.02. place for walking. Three of the analyzed The vicinity of some sacral buildings church gardens feature playgrounds for is also used as a location for national children (Sanctuary of Our Lady Teacher memorial sites. Examples include the of Youths, church of St. Antonio Maria monument commemorating the martyrs Zaccaria, church of Blessed Ladislas of of communist terror from 1944 to 1956, located within the Immaculate Concep- Gielniow), and in two gardens animals tion of the Virgin Mary church complex were exhibited (aviaries in the Blessed (St. Catherine parish), and plaques in the Ladislas of Gielniow church garden, wall surrounding the garden of St. An- and a Christmas crib with real animals tonio of Padua church (St. Boniface in in St. Thomas the Apostle church gar- Czerniaków parish) commemorating the den). Six parishes use the gardens to Bernardines and soldiers from the 14th organize parish fairs and festivities regiment of Lancers of Jazáowiec who (e.g. St. Casmir the Prince in Sielce died in 1939 and local inhabitants killed church with the Resurrectionist Con- and murdered during World War II. gregation, St. Dominique church and Also, the Temple of God’s Providence Dominican cloister) – Figure 3. Par- performs the function of a national me- ish fairs or festivities take place on sites morial site as the location of graves of with greater biologically active area prominent . The temple is still un- – 64.5 (50–80)% vs. 41.0 (15–90)%, der construction, and so it is dif¿ cult to p = 0.02. Also, a biologically active area say whether this function will also be re- promotes leisure activities and tourism. À ected in the surrounding garden.

FIGURE 3. Social functions of gardens surrounding sacral buildings. Dominicans’ Fair within the Do- minican cloister complex, and aviaries in the Blessed Ladislas of Gielniow church garden The chuch garden as an element shaping... 83

Small architectonic forms which emphasizes the place of crossing as an element of the composition of the border between the Profane and of church gardens the Sacred. The gate is usually situated on the main axis of the church. Sacral To analyze small architectonic forms as complexes with visible architectonic an element of the composition of gar- gate include both historical temples dens surrounding sacral buildings, the (e.g. the mid-19th-century gate with the following parameters were used: fences, Lubomirski family shield in front of gates, benches, lighting elements, refuse the church of St. Antonio of Padua) and bins and other small architectonic forms modern churches (e.g. the gate in front (Table 4). All analyzed sacral complexes of the Lord’s Offertory church). In the where the church surroundings are al- other sacral buildings, the entrance to ready laid out have a formal fence. Ten the church leads directly from the street of them have a visible architectonic gate (Fig. 4). TABLE 4. Small architectonic elements Lighting No Fences Gates Benches Refuse bins Other small architectonic forms elements Wilanów deanery 1 + + + – – Fountain 2+– + – – – 3 + – + + + Wooden bridge, arti¿ cial pond 4++ + + + – 5+– – + – – 6+– + – + – 7 + – – + – Baroque vases 8×× × × × × 9×× × × × × SáuĪew deanery 10 + + + + – St. Joseph’s hut, granite and concrete À owerpots 11 + – – – – – 12 + – + + – Bower Glass construction over the descent to the funeral 13 + + + + – chapel and the church cellar, concrete À owerpots 14 + + + + – Arti¿ cial pond Lapidary, concrete À owerpots, wooden trellis for 15 + + + + + climbers, bower Ursynów deanery 16 + + – – – Well, concrete À owerpots 17 × × × × × × 18 + – – – – Stone À owerpots 19 + + – – – Bower 20 + – – + – Aviaries, concrete and wooden À owerpots 21 + + + – + – 22 + + – – – – For symbols explanations see Table 2. 84 M. KaczyĔska, D. Sikora

FIGURE 4. Examples of gates leading to sacral complexes. The churches of St. Antonio of Padua and the Lord’s Ascension Among the furnishing elements in the den occupies a larger area, and indicate analyzed church gardens, the most fre- that the garden is used not only during quent are benches (present in 11 of the church services but also for other types sacral complexes) and lighting elements of activities. (present in 10 cases). Usually they take Among other small architectural a form typical for urban green areas. forms, the most frequent are À owerpots Only a few complexes contain indi- with seasonal À owers, perennials and vidually designed furnishing elements. small shrubs. They emphasize the church Examples include lighting elements stylized as gas-lamps in the St. Antonio entrance or the location of Marian ¿ g- of Padua church garden, and benches ures, ¿ gures of saints and crosses. Rarely, decorated with forged elements in the wooden bowers or trellises for climbers shape of vines in the St. Antonio Maria are found in the gardens (Fig. 5). Zaccaria church garden (Barnabite Fa- Water elements are not very common thers parish). Refuse bins are found only in the sacral gardens (found in only two in the sacral complexes where the gar- cases). Usually they have the form of

FIGURE 5. Examples of small architectonic forms in gardens surrounding sacral buildings. Bench next to the church of St. Antonio Maria Zaccaria, and À owerpots alongside the church of the Lord’s Ascension The chuch garden as an element shaping... 85 a small arti¿ cial pond located near ¿ g- Pathways and pavement types ures of Mary (the church of St. Madeleine in church gardens Sophie Barat, Sacred Heart of Jesus con- To analyze pathways and pavement vent) or chapels dedicated to the Virgin types in the gardens surrounding sacral Mary (Sanctuary of Our Lady Teacher buildings, the following parameters were of Youths). Near the Lord’s Ascension used: pathway surrounding the church, church a stone well has been built, per- developed pathway system, pavement forming only a symbolic function. An type, and square in front of the church unusual element present in a sacral gar- entrance (Table 5). The development of den is the aviaries located by the church a pathway system in a church garden of Blessed Ladislas of Gielniow. usually depends on the garden’s size.

TABLE 5. Pathways and pavement types Pathway Developed Square in front of No surrounding pathway Pavement type the church entrance the church system Wilanów deanery 1 – – Grey concrete sett, gravel – Grey concrete sett with light-grey ornament, 2– + – concrete paving 3 + + Grey and light-grey concrete sett with patterns + 4 + + Grey and red concrete sett + 5 + – Concrete paving – Grey and red concrete sett, granite sett decora- 6+ + + tive elements 7 + – Concrete paving + 8× × × × 9× × × × SáuĪew deanery 10 + – Grey and red concrete sett + 11 + – Grey and red concrete sett – 12 + + Concrete sett, granite sett, concrete paving + 13 + + Concrete sett, stones, concrete paving + 14 + + Grey concrete sett – 15 + + Granite sett, grey concrete sett + Ursynów deanery 16 – – Grey concrete sett – 17 × × × × 18 + – Granite sett, concrete paving + 19 + + Grey and red concrete sett + 20 + + Grey and red concrete sett + 21 – – Grey concrete sett – 22 + – Concrete paving + For symbols explanations see Table 2. 86 M. KaczyĔska, D. Sikora

In larger-scale gardens, apart from the the church, the crossing of pathways or pathway surrounding the church, there is the location of a symbolic element. Con- an area with a well-developed system of crete sett pavement is also used in the paths for walking. This serves not only surroundings of some historical church- religious purposes, but is also used as es, such as the church of St. Antonio of recreational green area. Better developed Padua. Granite sett paving is notably pathway systems are found in the gardens less frequent, being found in only four with larger biologically active area – 62 of the complexes. Granite sett may be (33–80)% vs. 40 (15–90)%, p = 0.037. used only for decorative elements in Fifteen of the analyzed sacral complexes a concrete sett pavement (e.g. in the have a pathway around the church, most- St. Antonio Maria Zaccaria church ly used during processional church serv- garden – Fig. 6) or as the sole pave- ices. Ten of the complexes, apart from ment material (e.g. in the gardens of the road around the church, also have the churches of SS Peter and Paul the

FIGURE 6. System of pathways in St. Antonio Maria Zaccaria church garden a well-developed system of walking Apostles, St. Thomas the Apostle and paths. In the majority of the complexes, St. Dominique). In seven of the analyzed the path system is of informal character. sacral complexes several types of pav- An example is the relatively large-scale ing occur. An example is the Immaculate garden belonging to the church of SS Conception of the Virgin Mary church Peter and Paul the Apostles. Geometri- garden (Saint Catherine parish), where cal garden path compositions are found three types of pavement are used: con- less frequently. An example is the gar- crete sett, stones, and concrete paving. den layout in front of the façade of the Twelve of the analyzed sacral com- church of St. Antonio of Padua. plexes have a visible square in front of In the analyzed sacral complexes, concrete sett pavement predominates. the church’s main entrance. Often this This type of pavement is commonly used place is also marked with a pattern in in city public spaces. Often the pave- the paving. Only the churches located ment also contains colored decoration, directly adjacent to the street lack this which emphasizes the space in front of compositional element. The chuch garden as an element shaping... 87

Decorative elements with symbolic Figures of Mary are found in 13 of the meaning in church gardens sacral complexes where the garden com- position has already been established The garden surrounding a sacral build- (Table 6). These are common elements ing should favor an atmosphere of self- in both historical and modern church -concentration, prayer, and feeling of gardens. The location of the ¿ gures of God’s closeness. In order to achieve Mary is always emphasized by a compo- such an atmosphere, symbolic elements sition of À owers, shrubs or À owerpots, are located in the garden. These include and sometimes also by water elements. ¿ gures of Mary or crosses commemo- There are also some commemorative rating the most important religious and ¿ gures, such as the statue of the Virgin spiritual events in the church or parish, Mary from the Warsaw ghetto in the Im- such as holy missions. On the crosses lo- maculate Conception of the Virgin Mary cated in the churchyard, tablets with the church garden (Saint Catherine parish) dates of each holy mission are placed. which witnessed the baptism of nearly Often the ¿ gures of Mary in the church- 5,000 Jews from the Ghetto. Another ex- yard have a commemorative character or ample is the statue of the Virgin Mary have been founded by a particular fam- from the January Uprising period, locat- ily belonging to the parish as a supplica- ed near the church of Our Lady the Moth- tion for benediction. In the churchyard er of Mercy (Congregation of Marianist also other religious ¿ gures appear, such Brothers and Priests parish), donated by as statues of Jesus Christ and ¿ gures a parishioner. Also, some ¿ gures have of saints related to the church or par- been founded by a family belonging to ish. Apart from the ¿ gures of Mary, in a particular parish. An example is the ¿ g- many churchyards chapels and grottos ure of Our Lady of Perpetual Help from for the Virgin Mary have been estab- 1902 in the Immaculate Conception of lished. Most frequently they are inspired the Virgin Mary church garden (Saint by the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, Catherine parish). In four of the ana- where several apparitions of Mary have lyzed sacral complexes, chapels in the been reported. Near some grottos, small form of a grotto or in the form of small arti¿ cial ponds have also been estab- buildings devoted to the Virgin Mary lished. These water elements symbol- are present. Examples of such symbolic ize the spring which was discovered in elements include the grotto established the grotto of Lourdes. In these grottos near the church of St. Casmir the Prince a statue of the Virgin Mary is placed on in Sielce (Resurrectionist Congregation) a mound made of stones. Usually the (Fig. 7) and the chapel built at the site of statue holds a rosary in one hand, as Mary apparitions near the Sanctuary of a reminder of the rosary prayer. The Our Lady Teacher of Youths (Our Lady grottos are decorated with À owers and Queen of the Believers parish). Within candles. In May and October, they are the analyzed area there are also ¿ gures used to conduct the Mary’s services. of Jesus Christ (e.g. near the church of 88 M. KaczyĔska, D. Sikora

TABLE 6. Sculptural elements and small architectonic forms with symbolic meaning Marian Preserved Stations of the ¿ gures and Votive No historical Cross/shrines Other symbolic elements ¿ gures of crosses graves along wall saints Wilanów deanery 1– + – – – 2 + + – – Grotto of Mary, shrine Chapel commemorating the Marian 3+ + – – apparitions 4+ + – – – 5– – – – – 6+ + – – – 7 + + – + Grotto of Mary 8× + – – – 9× × × × – SáuĪew deanery 10 + + – – – Grotto of Mary surrounded by ¿ gures 11 – + – – of the Apostles 12 + + – – – 13 + + – – – 14 + + – – – 15 + + – – – Ursynów deanery 16 + + – – – 17 – + – – – 18 – + – – Sculpture of Pietá 19 + + – + – 20 + + – – – 21 + – – – – 22 – + –– – For symbols explanations see Table 2.

SS Peter and Paul the Apostles) and the Cross or shrines along the wall sur- ¿ gures of saints (e.g. the chapel with rounding the churchyard are found in a ¿ gure of Saint Paul, the patron of the only two of the analyzed complexes. convent, near the church of St. Antonio The Stations of the Cross have been con- Maria Zaccaria in the Barnabite Fathers structed alongside the historical church parish). A distinctive symbolic ele- of St. Anna in Wilanów. Representations ment is the sculpture of Pietá located in of shrines from Sanctuaries of Mary in St. Thomas the Apostle church garden. many parts of the world have been es- Votive or missionary crosses occur tablished in the wall surrounding the in almost all the complexes. Stations of Lord’s Offertory church (Fig. 7). The chuch garden as an element shaping... 89

FIGURE 7. Figures of Mary at the churches of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat and St. Casmir the Prince in Sielce. The Stations of the Cross at the church of St. Anna in Wilanów, and one of the shrines in the wall surrounding the Lord’s Offertory church

DISCUSSION cover 50–65% of the whole terrain. They are usually connected to larger green ar- The research has con¿ rmed that histori- eas within the city, which increases their cally established models for the layout ecological value, since they constitute of the surroundings of sacral buildings a part of Warsaw’s natural system. They are still adopted in contemporary sacral improve local climatic conditions, and complexes, although the modern ways create a habitat for small fauna. Accord- in which church gardens are used lead to ing to Cooper [2012], towards the end of the introduction of some new elements. the 20th century the value of churchyards These traditional models include ele- for wildlife was recognized in England. ments such as the visible square in front Among principal habitats of importance of the church’s main entrance, which re- that he mentions are old trees, which are ferred to the antique forum [D’Alfonso also a common form of vegetation in the and Samss 1997], the pathway surround- church gardens analyzed here. ing the church, and gates and fences. The analyzed church gardens pro- The pathway surrounding the church is vide convenient conditions for outdoor still an important element used during leisure and recreation for local inhab- Eucharistic and resurrection processions itants. This is especially important in and parish fairs. The square in front densely built city districts. They are of the church is sometimes reduced to usually easily accessible and have a con- a small distance separating the temple from the street. Fences are of symbolic venient location, frequently in the centre rather than utilitarian signi¿ cance, serv- of the parish. Their composition, devel- ing to distinguish the sacred from the oped pathways, and presence of children non-sacred [Bis and Bis 2013]. Fences playgrounds, aviaries and small archi- and gates are often established accord- tectonic elements prove that they have ing to individual designs and include important social value for the local com- sacral and symbolic elements. munity. Among the cases analyzed there In the majority of the analyzed sac- are three where national memorials ex- ral complexes, biologically active areas ist. These have particular value for local 90 M. KaczyĔska, D. Sikora inhabitants, being regularly visited by 3. The green areas surrounding the an- parishioners and decorated with À owers alyzed sacral buildings, with areas and candles. A similar relationship be- ranging from 0.21 up to 5.80 ha, are tween parishioners and memorial plac- an important element of the system of es in churchyards is noted by Cooper urban green areas. They improve local [2012], who emphasizes the great value climatic conditions, provide a habitat of the graves located within churchyards for small fauna, and create conven- for the local community. ient conditions for outdoor leisure and The only elements of symbolic reli- recreation for local inhabitants. In the gious meaning are sculptural elements majority of the analyzed sacral com- and small architectonic forms. The con- plexes, the biologically active area temporarily designed church gardens accounts for 50–65% of the total. usually have a secular composition and 4. The character of sculptural detail in do not include many plants with Chris- the analyzed gardens results from tian symbolism, apart from the roses their sacral ideological signi¿ cance, which usually accompany the ¿ gures of while small architectonic elements Mary. (benches, refuse bins, lamps) are of generic character. Fences and gates CONCLUSIONS are often established according to in- dividual designs and reÀ ect the sacral, 1. Historically established models of symbolic character of the place. the layout of the surroundings of sac- 5. Developed systems of pathways, ral buildings, which emphasize the found in half of the analyzed sacral sacred nature of the place, are still complexes, as well as children’s play- adopted in contemporary sacral com- grounds, aviaries and sophisticated plexes despite changes in their func- compositions of plants, demonstrate tion (e.g. elimination of cemeteries that the function of the sacral garden within churchyards). These models has been intentionally broadened to include elements such as the visible include a recreational aspect. square in front of the church’s main 6. The church garden constitutes an im- entrance, a pathway surrounding the portant part of the composition of the church, gates and fences. sacral complex. It should be designed 2. The analyzed gardens surrounding together with the church building and sacral buildings perform a signi¿ cant parish buildings, allowing the achieve- role in the social life of local inhabit- ment of an integral composition with ants. They are places of regular meet- appropriate order and iconological ings at times of church services, they sense. Because of its speci¿ city, its serve as places of leisure and recrea- design and management should be the tion for various users, and three of subject of consultation with clerics, them also contain national memorial artists, architects and ecologists, so as sites. to avoid unfavorable decisions. The chuch garden as an element shaping... 91

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STĉPIEē, P. (1982). Znaczenie krajobrazu koĞcio- dla Īycia duchowego mieszkaĔców, jako terenów áa. Ruch Biblijny i Liturgiczny 35: (4) 251. biologicznie czynnych, zwiĊkszających biolo- SZAFRAēSKA M. (1998). Ogrody Ğrednio- giczny potencjaá miasta, jako miejsc rekreacji, wieczne. In: M. SzafraĔska (ed.) Ogród. For- jako miejsc peániących funkcjĊ dominant w kra- ma, symbol, marzenie. Arx Regia OĞrodek jobrazie miasta i budujących toĪsamoĞü lokalną. Wydawniczy Zamku Królewskiego w War- W wyniku przeprowadzonych badaĔ ustalono, szawie, Warszawa, pp. 45–58. Īe wiĊkszoĞü ogrodów koĞcielnych peáni funk- cjĊ miejsca spotkaĔ okolicznych mieszkaĔców. Streszczenie: Ogród przy obiekcie sakralnym jako W wiĊkszoĞci zespoáów sakralnych powierzchnia element ksztaátujący jakoĞü Īycia w mieĞcie – na biologicznie czynna zajmuje 50–65% terenu. Bli- wybranych przykáadach. Celem badaĔ byáo roz- sko poáowa zespoáów sakralnych jest powiązana poznanie form wspóáczesnego ogrodu przy obiek- przestrzennie z innymi terenami przyrodniczy- cie sakralnym w mieĞcie i ustalenie jak obecnoĞü mi. WĞród elementów wyposaĪenia w ogrodach tego typu obiektów wpáywa na podniesienie ja- przykoĞcielnych najczĊĞciej pojawiają siĊ áawki, koĞci Īycia mieszkaĔców oraz stwierdzenie na ile elementy oĞwietlenia i donice – elementy typowe wyksztaácony w Ğredniowieczu model tego typu równieĪ dla innych obiektów zieleni urządzo- zaáoĪenia jest wspóáczeĞnie aktualny. Pole ba- nej. WiĊkszoĞü badanych obiektów sakralnych dawcze stanowiáy ogrody przy 22 koĞcioáach, na ma obejĞcie wokóá koĞcioáa, wykorzystywane terenie trzech dekanatów poáudniowej Warszawy w trakcie naboĪeĔstw o charakterze procesyjnym, (wilanowskiego, sáuĪewskiego i ursynowskiego). czĊsto rozbudowane o bardziej skomplikowany Wpáyw przebadanych obiektów na podniesienie ukáad dróg spacerowych. W przeszáo poáowie jakoĞci Īycia mieszkaĔców przejawia siĊ w kil- zespoáów sakralnych zlokalizowane są elementy ku aspektach: jako historycznie uksztaátowanych rzeĨbiarskie i maáej architektury, związane z reli- przestrzeni modlitwy i kontemplacji, istotnych gijną symboliką miejsca.