EN
The convent of the Benedictine sisters in Grudziądz belonged to the Chełmno congregation, the beginnings of which are related to the abbess of the convent in Chełmno, Magdalena Mortęska (1579-1631). The nunnery in Grudziadz was established on the initiative of the abbess of the Benedictines in Toruń, Zofia Dulska (1587-1631). The new foundation gained material security thanks to Justyna Knutówna, the starosta of Pokrzywnice. The founder, apart from providing the financial support, equipped the nunnery-to –be with Szumiłowo village and a part of Bobrowo, renovated the church and erected brick convent buildings. The foundation was accepted in January 1631 by Bishop Jakub Zadzik. The nuns came from Toruń a month later. Between 1631 and 1656 the convent gradually gained more estates, such as Włosienica, Osieczek, Turznice and a part of Czerwińsk. The everyday life of the nuns was considerably influenced by the wars Poland fought with Sweden and Russia, striking epidemics and spreading diseases. The nuns were frequently forced to leave the convent and hide in their premises outside the city. In times of peace, however, the nuns were engaged in increasing the living conditions and repairing substantial damage. Benedictines in Grudziądz earned profits both from their estates and land tenancy, but also from the fees paid by lay ladies studying in the convent school. They also gained considerable and stable profit from the dowry of the women entering the convent. In 1722 Prussian authorities started to confiscate the convent’s property, and set a yearly wage for the nuns. In 1810 the authorities forbid the nunnery to accept new nuns and the wages were cut. In January 1836 the Benedictines were informed about the liquidation of the convent and were forced to move to Radzyn (14th May 1836).