Although the photovoltaic panels on the roof of St. Brigid's Basilica in Gdansk are saving the parish money and can't be seen from street level, they were installed illegally - because without the permission of the Pomeranian conservator of monuments. So the authority has charged a fine and is calling for their demolition. To no avail so far.
The photovoltaic panels on the roof of St. Brigid's Basilica, in Gdansk's Old Town, appeared in the summer of 2023. The snag is that the parish priest did not ask permission fromthe Pomeranian Regional Monument Conservator beforehand, even though this was necessary, because the building is listed in the register of monuments, the Old Town is also under conservation protection. The parish priest, Rev. Ludwik Kowalski, explained that he was guided by ecology and savings: the installation of the system is expected to save the parish 40 thousand zlotys a year. He also stressed that the panels cannot be seen from the sidewalk level.
Conservationist demands demolition
However, these arguments did not convince the Pomeranian Regional Monument Conservator, who already ordered the panels to be demolished and fined the parish PLN 5,000 in 2023. The parish pastor, however, appealed the conservator's decision to the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. However, the appeal was rejected.
The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage upheld the PWKZ's decision ordering the dismantling of the installation last year, reports Marcin Tyminski, spokesman for the Pomeranian conservator.
Although the deadline for demolition passed at the end of 2024, the photovoltaic system still sits on the church's roof. The conservator's office announces that it will conduct another inspection in February and impose a second, this time higher, fine.
The Provincial Office for Historic Preservation in Gdansk has fined the parish PLN5,000.
Provincial Office for Monument Protection in Gdansk
The panels are still there. Will there be further penalties?
Despite the controversy and the specter of further fines, there are many indications that the panels will remain - at least until August of this year. That's because Rev. Kowalski is counting on the fact that after that time the parish will be able to take advantage of the new virtual prosumer regulations, which are due to take effect in the summer of 2025. Those who want to lower their electricity bills will be able to have their own photovoltaic installation outside the place where the energy is consumed.
The provincial Office for Historic Preservation points out that the church at the site has existed since the Middle Ages. It was built in the mid-14th century, initially as a chapel dedicated to St. Magdalene. The sacred building was expanded by the Brigidine Order, which later arrived in Gdansk.
The basilica is listed in the register of monuments
Provincial Office for Historic Preservation in Gdansk
- In1945 the church was heavily damaged. It was not rebuilt for a long time. In 1957, the last surviving fragments of the roof truss and one of the gables of the south aisle burned down. The temple remained in ruins until 1970, when reconstruction began on the initiative of its long-time pastor, Father Henryk Jankowski. The activities of Lech Walesa and the Solidarity movement, as well as the importance the place had for Catholics during the communist regime, led to the St. Brigid's Basilica being considered a kind of "Solidarity" shrine, the WUOZ stresses.
