Kamień: St. Margaret and local history

Kamień combines a long local history with a notable focus on sacred architecture: the former Evangelical Church of St. Margaret. If you are interested in architectural and church history, the village offers several distinct historical milestones and details, from the early mention of Kamień to the church’s furnishings and bells. The church complex is among the most valuable architectural monuments in the municipality of Złotów.

The Church of St. Margaret: Half-timbering and furnishings

The Church of St. Margaret is a half-timbered church dating from 1803 and an example of 19th-century sacred half-timbered architecture. Its furnishings add two specific features to this architectural focus: a Neo-Baroque high altar and a folk-inspired painted gallery decoration. The architectural classification and the interior design thus stand side by side without describing the same thing. The half-timbered structure points to the building style; the altar and gallery draw attention to the furnishings. This gives a stay in Kamień more than a single historical point of interest: the year of construction, sacred architecture, and decorative elements offer different perspectives on St. Margaret.

Local history and historical milestones

Kamień is one of the oldest villages in the Złotów region and was first mentioned as early as 1225. Other dates are important to the church’s history: the first church in Kamień was built by the Grudziński family after 1619; the former Evangelical Church of St. Margaret dates from 1803. The period from the village’s early mention through the first church to the half-timbered building thus spans a long stretch of time. The years mark different stages in local and church history: 1225 refers to the mention of Kamień, while 1803 refers to the former Evangelical Church of St. Margaret. The history of the village and the architectural history of the church can therefore be viewed as connected, but not identical, subjects.

Bells and the former churchyard

Two bells dating from 1632 and 1636 hang in the bell tower of the Church of St. Margaret; their dates are four years apart. A row of cast-iron grave crosses from the second half of the 19th century stands on the north side of the former churchyard. The bells thus mark dates in the 17th century, while the grave crosses point to a later period. Together, these details add the history of the former churchyard to the picture of the church. The building style, interior furnishings, and grave crosses are different aspects of Kamień’s historical character and help ensure that local history is not reduced to a single building or date.

Roads and a hiking trail for orientation

County Road 1025 runs through Kamień and leads toward Radawnica. Municipal Road 106006 leads from Kamień toward Voivodeship Road 189 on the Jastrowie–Złotów–Więcbork route. The first reference describes a county road through the village; the second identifies a municipal road leading from Kamień toward a higher-level road. These different road connections can be considered separately when finding your way around the area. A 2021 route entry also describes the 33 km hiking trail “Stawnica – Radawnica – Kamień – Górzna – Złotów – Stawnica,” which passes through Kamień. In the title, Kamień lies between Radawnica and Górzna; the 33 km distance applies to the entire route. If you are planning to hike the trail, it is advisable to check the current waymarking in advance.

For the broader travel overview: Radawnica.