Hussite church in Havlíčkův Brod

The Czechoslovak Hussite Church building (Husův sbor) in Havlíčkův Brod is a modest but historically telling place of worship that tells the story of one of the most interesting chapters in 20th-century Czech religious history — the founding of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church. The building stands in the town centre, not far from two much older churches in Havlíčkův Brod (the Gothic Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and the Church of St. Catherine), yet it represents a completely different and far younger religious tradition.

Where did the Hussite congregation in Havlíčkův Brod come from?

The story of this congregation begins at the turn of 1919 and 1920, when part of the faithful in what was then Německý Brod (today's Havlíčkův Brod) separated from the Roman Catholic Church. The new religious community — the Czechoslovak Hussite Church — was formally established on 1 January 1920, taking its name from the Hussite heritage and its aim of renewing church life in a national and reformist spirit.

Where were the first services held?

The newly formed community did not have its own church straight away. The first services in 1920 took place in the Augustinian monastery church of the Holy Family, which was lent to the local Hussite parish. The congregation used this space until February 1926, when it received notice to vacate and had to look for a permanent location of its own.

When was the current church building constructed?

The current Husův sbor building was built between 1926 and 1927 to a design by architect František Liška, with construction carried out by contractor Prokop Šulich. Building a new church was a direct response to losing the previous place of worship at the Augustinian monastery — the local community needed its own permanent space, suited to the liturgy of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church.

How does this church differ from the other churches in town?

Unlike the medieval Gothic churches of Havlíčkův Brod, Husův sbor is a relatively young building, dating from the interwar period alongside the growth of the new denomination. That makes it an interesting stop for visitors curious not only about sacred architecture but also about the religious history of 20th-century Czechoslovakia — a period when the emergence of the independent Czechoslovak state brought significant changes to the country's religious landscape.

Is the church still used for worship today?

Yes, the building remains a place of worship for the local Czechoslovak Hussite Church community, continuing the tradition established in 1919–1920.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Czechoslovak Hussite Church in Havlíčkův Brod founded? The community separated from the Roman Catholic Church at the turn of 1919 and 1920 and was formally established on 1 January 1920.

Where did the congregation worship before the current building existed? Until February 1926, it used the Augustinian monastery church of the Holy Family.

Who designed the Husův sbor in Havlíčkův Brod? The building was designed by architect František Liška and built by contractor Prokop Šulich between 1926 and 1927.

Is this the same building as the Gothic Church of the Assumption in the town? No. Husův sbor is a separate, much younger building linked to the Czechoslovak Hussite Church, distinct from the medieval Catholic churches in the centre of Havlíčkův Brod.