Burial chapel of Peter Gröning, mayor of Stargard (†1631)

Results of archaeological research

Abstract

This paper presents the history of the burial chapel of Peter Gröning, mayor of Stargard, and changes to its furnishings. The major part of the paper is devoted to the presentation of the results of archaeological work carried out in the interior of the chapel, where two burial chambers were discovered. In the light of historical sources Peter Gröning (†1631) and his first wife Margareta de domo Friedrichs (†1628) were buried there. Peter Gröning is considered to have been the most distinguished mayor of Stargard in the modern period. In his will, inter alia he endowed the Collegium, which was an academic school in the 18^th century and transformed into a classical gymnasium in the 19^th century. The burials of Peter and Margareta Gröning took place during a difficult period in the history of Stargard, namely the events of the Thirty Years’ War, tragic for the city and for Western Pomerania. The burial place was commemorated with paintings and sculptures no earlier than in 1731 to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the death of Peter Gröning. Archaeological research was carried out in the burial chapel of the Grönings in view of the scheduled conservation work in 2019.