A Night of Mennonite Music in Chełmno, Poland

On the night of 8 June 2025, Donna Ratzlaff Hetrick was given a special and unique opportunity to present a Mennonite-related pipe organ concert at the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chełmno, Poland.  Most of our Mennonite ancestors in Polish-Prussia did sing songs but probably did not use pipe organs; the earliest Mennonite pipe organ in Polish-Prussia was used in the United Danzig church during the 19th century.  Largely, Mennonites adopted songs from other denominations such as the Lutherans.  The purpose of Donna’s concert was to bring attention to local Polish folks of Mennonite culture.

Donna’s concert included the following: Concerto for Organ in G Major by Johann Sebastian Bach, Lobt Gott, ihr Christen by Johann Gottfried Walther, O Gott du frommer Gott also by Bach (Both of these chorales are found in the Danzig Choral Buch.  The text for O Gott du frommer Gott is included in the 18th century Jacob Thomas Liede Buch from the community of Brenkenhofswalde).  Three hymn preludes by J. Harold Moyer were also included: I Sought the Lord; O Thou, In Whose Presence; and On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand.  Closing the concert was Praise God from Whom All Blessing Flow.

These links include just a few short highlights of the concert.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4btzIEn772k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hAo7o7FVU8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWANNI6tS3k

Chełmno (Culm or Kulm) was a particularly important city during the Mennonite era of Polish history.  The Bishop of Culm was one of the most powerful men in the Kingdom.  The city became the namesake for Culm Law and for standards of early-modern measurement.  Jagiellonian University established a branch in the city which was also home to numerous churches and monasteries.  

This Mennonite concert was held at the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a gothic church first constructed by the early years of the 14th century.  It’s a particularly grand church which would be right at home in the larger cities of Krakow or Warsaw.  In the 17th and 18th centuries, our Mennonite ancestors living at Przechowko or other nearby villages would have known the tower of this church as the tallest structure for miles around.  Indeed, this church tower could have easily been seen by Przechowko villagers working in their fields or gardens.

The concert in this church was particularly significant for Mennonite history.  Never before had Mennonite songs been played by a Mennonite artist in this church.  During centuries past, the sitting bishops of Culm sometimes protected the Mennonites while at other times contributed to their persecution.  Plaques adorn the walls of the church, honoring powerful landowners of Culm, who once were the overlords to the Mennonites.  Just outside the church, about a block to the northeast, is a large military academy building that was built on the support of taxation drawn from 18th century Mennonites.