14 Aleksander Piwek
to strengthen the previously free-standing pillar in the ba -
sement, the space between it and the utility room and the
west wall of the basement was lled with bricks.
The post-war period was not conducive to expensive
work. The wall painting was abandoned and the walls and
vaults were whitewashed. With the exception of the rst
recess in the south wall to the west, all were bricked up.
This was also removed shortly afterwards. A cupboard in
the south wall, considered redundant, was treated in the
same way. The furnaces were dismantled, leaving only the
one in the north-west corner as the least intrusive to the
perception of the interior. The chapel was used temporarily
as a sacristy.
Phase 2, covering the years 1964–2013, followed the
establishment of the cult of Perpetual Adoration of the
Blessed Sacrament in the chapel (1964). The work under-
taken during this time was to improve the use of the
chapel. The previously planned (1947) creation of a nar-
row vaulted corridor [5] from the steps in the western wall
was not completed until 1972. At that time, a window
was carved into its north wall, creating a passage to the
courtyard. It was probably at this time that the bricked up
entrance to the former matroneum was replaced. In the
1980s, furnace heating ceased to be used. Instead, a oor
heating system was installed. Rectangular recesses were
cut in the north wall, about 20 cm above the oor, into
which radiators were inserted.
Phase 3 is the result of the 2014–2015 research. The
medieval period was taken as the basic time for the new
architectural decoration of the walls. In some justied
cases, this principle was deviated from. The radiator
recesses were removed. Bricked-up recesses with segmen-
tal archways were exposed, and those that were damaged
by modern alterations were repaired, restoring them to
their original form. The northern modern cupboard recess
was uncovered, and the original one from the medieval
period was reconstructed in its place. The rectangular two
oil lamp recesses(?) were marked in the plaster by out-
lining. In the south wall, the cupboard recess was again
exposed. The connection to the chancel was made by
activating a medieval passage. Traces of the entrance to
the pulpit were plastered over. However, the medieval
entrance to the matroneum level found on the west wall
was exposed and left as a recess. The former large arch
below it, as a relic of Gothic decoration, was exposed by
partially exposing the face of the bricks forming it.
The historic lime plasterwork on the walls was pre-
served and the painting relics found on the walls were con-
served. The medieval consecration crosses were partially
reconstructed. The same applies to some of the vault dec-
orations.
Summary
A reconstruction of the history of the chapel has not
yet been possible due to the introduction of a permanent
cult (1964). It was only as a result of the subsequent
architectural research undertaken (2014–2015) that the
hitherto unknown history of the chapel was identied. In
addition to medieval details, modern and contemporary
details were found. The discovered traces made it pos-
sible to establish six phases of construction, which have
been described and justied. The rst, which forms the
basis of all the later ones, concerns the building erected
during or immediately after the construction of the future
chancel. The interior of the chapel with its west matro-
neum was covered by a ceiling, which was only replaced
by vaults at the time of re-gothicisation (early 20
th
centu-
ry). The chapel was probably originally associated with
the confraternity of St. Eric. It was soon replaced by the
Confraternity of the Holy Scapular. From the 17
th
century
onwards, the chapel periodically served as a sacristy. The
rich history of transformations was derived from the cur-
rent opportunities and needs of the Carmelites and later
their legal successors.
Translated by
SkrivanekSp.zo.o.
References
[1] Barton-Piórkowska J., Stare Miasto, POLNORD – Wydawnictwo
Oskar, Gdańsk 2010.
[2] S[ławomir] K[ościelak], Kościółśw.Józefa, [in:] B. Śliwiński (red.),
EncyklopediaGdańska, Fundacja Gdańska, Gdańsk 2012, 513–516.
[3] Domańska H., Zespółklasztornypw.św.JózefaMisjonarzyOblatów
MariiNiepokalanejwGdańsku.Studiumhistoryczno-architektonicz-
ne, Gdańsk 1972–1973 [manuscript in: NID, Oddział Gdańsk].
[4] Piwek A.,Inwentaryzacjeiwynikibadańarchitektonicznychkaplicy
kościołapw. św.JózefawGdańsku, Gdańsk 2015 [manuscript in:
Miejski Konserwator Zabytków, Gdańsk].
[5] Biszewski K., Chorzewski J., Gdańsk.ZespółKlasztoruKarmelitów
ul.Elżbietańska.Klasztorikościółparaalnypw.św.Józefa.Pro-
jektodbudowy, 1947 [manuscript in: NID, Oddział Gdańsk].
[6] Kasprzak M., Samól P., Przemiany przestrzenne w obrębie śred-
niowiecznegozałożenia klasztornegokarmelitów przykościeleśw.
JózefawGdańskuwświetlewykopaliskarcheologicznych, “Arche-
ologia Gdańska” 2021, t. 8, 191–214.
[7] Samól P., Opiniaoczterechoknachwścianiepółnocnejrefektarza
dawnegoklasztorukarmelitówwGdańsku, [Gdańsk] 2019 [manu -
script in: Dom zakonny Misjonarzy Oblatów Maryi Niepokalanej,
Gdańsk].
[8] Ranisch B., BeschreibungallerKirchen-GebäudederStadtDanzig,
Danzig 1695.
[9] Trajdos T.M., U zarania karmelitów w Polsce, Instytut Historii
PAN, Warszawa 1993.
[10] Samól P., MłodeMiastoGdańsk(1380–1455)ijegopatrymonium,
Wydawnictwo UG, Gdańsk 2018.
[11] Zimnowoda-Krajewska B., Prarat M., Badania architektoniczne
refektarzawzespoleklasztornymmisjonarzyOblatówMaryiNie-
pokalanejwGdańsku, Toruń–Gdańsk 2016 [manuscript in: Miejski
Konserwator Zabytków, Gdańsk].
[12] Kościelak S., KatolicywprotestanckimGdańskuoddrugiejpoło-
wyXVIdokońcaXVIIIwieku, Wydawnictwo UG, Gdańsk 2012.
[13] Januszajtis A., Kościół Świętego Józefa wGdańsku.Dziejeiza-
bytki, Marpress, Gdańsk 2020.
[14] Drost W., KunstdenkmälerderStadtDanzig, Bd. 3, W. Kohlham-
mer Verlag, Stuttgart 1959.