Regarding a place where a former granary now echoes with hymns. This is the story of Husův sbor Zbraslav. It is a church with a unique past.
Husův sbor Zbraslav stands as a testament to faith. It also shows architectural ingenuity. This building began its life as a granary. For over a century it stored grain. Now it serves as a house of worship.
The story of Husův sbor Zbraslav begins in 1924. The local congregation needed a new place to gather. Their previous agreement to share space in the Church of St Havel fell through. The Czechoslovak Church formed a building committee. In 1925 they bought the old granary. They planned to build a chapel and columbarium next to it. But problems with renting the building delayed the project.
In 1934 Václav Jílek became the pastor. He presented plans by architect Stanislav Vachata. Vachata also co-designed Husův sbor in Prague-Smíchov. In 1937 construction began. Václav Jílek led the building committee. Václav Vejvoda a local builder did the work for free. Thanks to their hard work the church opened in 1939.
Husův sbor Zbraslav is a modernist building with functionalist elements. It has a simple vertical design. Round windows and the tower’s unique top give it character. The tower has an octagon with a symbolic chalice.
Inside Husův sbor Zbraslav, you will find a beautiful interior. Local craftsmen and artists created it. A bright cross once adorned the altar wall. Faux marble covered the walls. A heraklit coffered ceiling added to the beauty. Bretislav Dvořák painted frescoes of Jan Hus and Jan Amos Komenský. Jindřich Mahelka and Miloš Pošar added ornamental paintings with biblical quotes.
Some original features are gone today. But new artworks have been added. The most notable is the Renaissance altar. It originally belonged to the Zbraslav monastery’s Church of St James. When the church was rebuilt in 1744 the altar was stored away. Later it was reassembled in the Church of St Havel. In the late 1800s it was restored. It suffered damage in the 1970s. It was then moved to Husův sbor.
Also part of the building is a columbarium. The remains of the painter Maxmilián Pirner are here.
Today Husův sbor Zbraslav hosts services and concerts. It also participates in the Night of Churches. It is a place for community. It is a place for reflection. It is a place for celebration.
Husův sbor Zbraslav stands as a symbol of transformation. It shows how an old granary can become a spiritual home. Its history and art make it a treasure. It is a place where the past and present meet.