Difficulties of community building in the Evangelical-Augsburg Parish of Miechowice and attempts to overcome them

The origins of the Evangelical parish in Miechowice can be traced back to the late 19th century. It was established by the Ostoja Pokoju (org. Friedenshort), a charitable institution whose founder and main benefactor was Eva von Tiele-Winckler, daughter of one of the richest aristocrats of Prussia at the time. The proximity and family atmosphere – from the very beginning – distinguished the Miechowitz community. The activities undertaken were intended to build bonds in which Tiele-Winckler saw great value and importance in the process of rehabilitation and upbringing. The paper will therefore outline the founding ideas of Ostoja Pokoju, the historical beginnings of the parish, its further history up to the present day, when the last buildings crumbled before the eyes of the faithful. The process of saving the architectural and community heritage will be described, as well as the outcome – the use of the restored buildings in the reconstruction of a community and meta-community, for which proximity, relationality and connectedness again represent a profound value and set the direction in the endo and exogenous activities of the community gathered around the historic parish complex.