52°24′34″N16°57′32″E / 52.40944°N 16.95889°E /52.40944; 16.95889
| Church of Saint John of Jerusalem outside the walls Kościół św. Jana Jerozolimskiego za murami(in Polish) | |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Diocese | Nowe Miasto |
| Location | |
| Location | Poznań,Poland |
 Interactive map of Church of Saint John of Jerusalem outside the walls Kościół św. Jana Jerozolimskiego za murami(in Polish) | |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Romanesque,Brick Gothic,Baroque (chapel) |
| Completed | 11th century |
| Materials | Brick, Stone |
TheChurch of Saint John of Jerusalem outside the walls (Polish:Kościół św. Jana Jerozolimskiego za murami) is aRoman Catholic parish church in the city ofPoznań in westernPoland. The original church on this site was built at the end of the 11th century, making it one of the oldest churches within the present boundaries of Poznań.
It stands on the south-eastern corner of the Rondo Śródkaroundabout, between the neighbourhoods ofŚródka and Komandoria, within the city'sNowe Miasto district. It is close to the north-west corner ofLake Malta. The epithet "Outside the Walls" refers to the fact that it lay outside Poznań's medieval defensive walls.
The church is dedicated to St. John of Jerusalem (John the Baptist), the patron saint of theKnights Hospitallers, to whom the church belonged until 1832 (and to whom it has now been restored).
A church, dedicated to St. Michael, stood on the site near the fork of the roads leading toŚrem andGiecz at the end of the 11th century. According toJan Długosz, on 6 May 1170 DukeMieszko III and the bishop of Poznań set up a pilgrims' hospice there. In 1187 the church and hospice were granted to the Order of theKnights Hospitallers. Around the beginning of the 13th century the Order began construction of a new church, which is essentially the building which survives to this day. It was one of the first brick-built churches in Poland. At some point before 1288 the church was re-dedicated to the Order's patron saint, St. John of Jerusalem (John the Baptist), although the older name was still sometimes used as least until 1360. The Order was also granted land to the east and south of the church, now occupied by the Komandoria district andLake Malta. Both these names are connected with the Hospitallers:komandoria means acommandry of that Order, while the island ofMalta was once the Order's home.
Following fire damage in the late 15th century the church was rebuilt inGothic style. Around 1512 an aisle, a tower and a timber ceiling were added. In 1736 aBaroque chapel was added on the south side. In 1832 thePrussian government abolished the Order, and the church became a parish church. During the Second World War it was used for storage, and it was damaged during theBattle of Poznań in 1945. It was restored in 1948, with attempts to restore the originalRomanesque architectural style.
In 1992 the church was returned to the Order of Knights Hospitallers (the parish provost is also the chaplain of the Order). The Order has opened anambulatory care centre forcancer patients there.
The church hasbuttressed walls, twonaves and apitched roof. The tower, only slightly higher than the nave, has an asymmetric roof. The Baroque chapel on the east side (Holy Cross Chapel,kaplica Śwętego Krzyża) has acupola with a lantern.
The oldest, Romanesque, walls are built inFlemish bond. The Romanesque westernportal has two columns: that on the left dates from the 11th century (it stands "upside down", with its base upwards), while the right-hand column is a reconstruction. Above the portal is a figure ofJohn the Baptist. On the same wall is a Romanesque rosetta window. An original Romanesque window can also be seen on the eastern wall of thechancel (it became visible after a more modernvestry was demolished). The church is topped with aMaltese cross.
The remains of an old church cemetery can be found within the walls surrounding the church.
Both naves have astellar vault from thelate Gothic period. Thechancel has a late Romaesque cruciform vault. The vaults displayfrescos painted in 1949 byStanisław Teisseyre.
The chancel has a late Gothictriptych made in a local workshop around 1520, and significantly restored after sustaining damage in the Second World War. It shows thesacra conversazione between theVirgin Mary,John the Baptist andSaint Stanisław. With the wings closed it shows the martyrdom of St. Stanisław and the beheading of John the Baptist andSaint John the Evangelist.
Another altar can be found in the aisle. In its centre is a picture of the mourning of Christ, many times repainted.
In Holy Cross Chapel is a Baroque altar from 1737. In its centre is acrucifix from the mid-17th century, once standing on the road toŚródka, and regarded as miraculous. It is normally covered by a picture of theSacred Heart of Jesus. At the sides are figures of John the Baptist and St. Stanisław. Beneath the chapel is acrypt in which two Hospitallercommanders are buried: Michał Stanisław Dąbrowski (died 1740) and Andrzej Marcin Miaskowski (died 1832).
A sandstone font stands in the aisle, dating from 1522. It is decorated withtracery and a picture of the Baptism in the Jordan, made in 1615.
At the western end of the nave is a 19th-century choir, above which is a neo-Gothic organ front made in 1948.
Catholicorder of chivalry andsovereign subject ofinternational law, founded in 1099 inJerusalem,  Kingdom of Jerusalem | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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