Jan Hus Presbyterian Church

Jan Hus Presbyterian Church

Jan Hus Presbyterian Church (2010)

Location 351 East 74th Street, New York, New York 10021-3701
Country United States
Denomination Presbyterian
Website www.janhus.org
History
Founded 1877
Architecture
Functional status Active
Architect(s) R.H. Robertson
Completed 1888

Jan Hus Presbyterian Church in New York City is a Presbyterian church.[1]

The church is named for Jan Hus, a Bohemian priest who was a religious thinker and reformer.[2] The church is located at 351 East 74th Street, New York, New York, in Manhattan's Upper East Side, in the area that was once known as Little Bohemia. Once a center of the Czech community, the church now has a diversified inclusionist congregation.

The church runs an active Neighborhood House that promotes music, theater and culture and operates a homeless outreach program. The church basement includes a 150-seat theatre that has was home to Gilbert and Sullivan performing groups almost continuously from 1952 to 1975. Chicago City Limits performed there throughout the 1980s. Since then, several arts organizations have been based at the theatre.

Contents

History

The church was founded in 1877 when Gustav Alexy, a Hungarian missionary, felt a calling to work among the Czech community.[3][4] The building was designed by R.H. Robertson and built in 1888, and bears the inscription "Truth Prevails", a famous Jan Hus saying.

When Pastor Alexy died in 1880, the newly official Presbyterian Church asked 21-year-old Vincent Pisek to take over as leader. At the turn of the century Czech families immigrated to America in large numbers settling in New York. The followers of Jan Hus had been persecuted or forced out of Bohemia. Pisek was "free-thinking" and performed marriages between men and women from different ethnic groups. His enthusiasm to help make these marriages was a part of what helped to build his church.[5]

With thousands of Czech parishioners when the church started,[6][7] the congregation has changed greatly with the Czech community dispersing over the years. By the 1950s, Jan Hus Church was no longer predominantly Czech.[8] Jan Hus Church has not had a Czech pastor since the 1960s.[9]

Ray Bagnuolo[10] became the pastor August 2, 2009 [11] and still resides there.[12]

Jan Hus was among the first churches to become an Open and Affirming congregation for the full inclusion of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender people in church life[8][13][14][15]

Jan Hus Neighborhood House

Through the efforts Vincenc Pisek of Malesov, the successor of Gustav Alexy of Roznov, the new modern Czech Brethren Presbyterian House was built in 1888.[16]

Among its many community efforts Jan Hus Church organizes a homeless outreach program called HOAP.[17] The program HOAP assists more than fifty guests with immediate responses to their physical needs. The program also allows the homeless to use the church's address for their mailing address, and currently receives mail for over 500 people.[18]

In 1888, the J.H. & C.S. Odell Company installed a "Size No. 9" organ in the church, The Odell Size 9 organ had a case of "appropriate and approved design, made of Walnut, Chestnut, or Ash," with "the large speaking pipes displayed in front to be gilded, silvered, or richly ornamented in gold and colors." The organ measured 16 feet high, 11 feet, 3 inches wide, and 7 feet, 3 inches deep. This organ was removed in 1969 by Alan Laufman and Guy Henderson, but the organ case and display pipes were left in the church.[2][19]

Like many churches in New York City, Jan Hus rents out its space for community and artistic events; however, Jan Hus has been dedicated to this mission for its community for decades.[20] In 1914, Atherton Pisek and the Jan Hus community raised funds to open the Neighborhood House and in 1915, the church built its Neighborhood House to celebrate Czech culture: the folk music, the dance, marionette theatre, and music. Located on the eastern-most portion of our building, the Neighborhood House was to be a cultural and social center for the Bohemian people, a place for art and music, job training, a dental clinic, clubs, athletics, language classes and more. While expanded beyond the Czech community, the Neighborhood House continues to promote music, theater, and culture.[21][3][12]

Jan Hus Playhouse Theater

The Jan Hus theater has presented and housed several art events and organizations.

Articles

Second Chance for Star-Studded Theater With a community-minded focus, drama in the basement of an East Side church, By Deirdre Donovan, Our Town, April 28, 2010

References

  1. ^ "Congregations in Manhattan: Presbytery of New York City". Nycpresbytery.org. May 4, 2010. http://www.nycpresbytery.org/congregations/congregational-directory/manhattan/. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  2. ^ a b "Jan Hus Presbyterian Church – New York City". Nycago.org. http://www.nycago.org/Organs/NYC/html/JanHusPres.html. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  3. ^ a b "A Short History of Jan Hus Presbyterian Church and Neighborhood House". Janhus.org. http://www.janhus.org/history.htm. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  4. ^ "The Jan Hus Church in New York – a remnant of the Upper East Side’s Czech past – Radio Prague". Radio.cz. http://www.radio.cz/en/section/special/the-jan-hus-church-in-new-york-a-remnant-of-the-upper-east-sides-czech-past. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  5. ^ "Memorial Tablet to Dr. Pisek, 50 Years Pastor, Is Unveiled at Jan Hus Presbyterian Church". nytimes.com. July 3, 2011. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20714FE3E5E1B7A93C2AA1788D85F458385F9. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  6. ^ Crossette, Barbara (September 10, 1976). "In Search of the Czechoslovak East Side". nytimes.com. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50616F73E5C137B93C2A81782D85F428785F9. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  7. ^ "CZECH WORSHIPERS TO MARK 75 YEARS – Three Generations Will Honor Presbyterian Church Named for Jan Hus, the Martyr". nytimes.com. July 3, 2011. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50713FE3B58107A93C4A81789D85F468585F9. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  8. ^ a b "About Us". Janhus.org. http://www.janhus.org/about_us.htm. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  9. ^ Berger, Joseph (April 7, 2006). ".". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04E4DF1130F934A35757C0A9609C8B63&pagewanted=all. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  10. ^ "Sermons". Raybagnuolo.net. http://www.raybagnuolo.net/sermons.htm. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  11. ^ Tremba, Kristin J. (March 5, 2010). "The Layman Online". Layman.org. http://www.layman.org/news.aspx?article=26807. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
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  14. ^ "219th GA Overture Advocate Rev. Ray Bagnuolo on Amendment 10A". Amendment10a.org. November 1, 2010. http://www.amendment10a.org/2010/11/219th-ga-overture-advocate-rev-ray.html. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  15. ^ Gonzalez, David (March 29, 1997). "Anti-Gay Rule Stirs Protest At a Church". Nytimes.com. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/29/nyregion/anti-gay-rule-stirs-protest-at-a-church.html. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  16. ^ Miloslav Rechcigl, Jr.. "Gateway to America". Jewishgen.org. http://www.jewishgen.org/austriaczech/gateway.html. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  17. ^ "NWHS Homeless Outreach & Advocacy Project". Northwesthumanservices.org. http://www.northwesthumanservices.org/NWHS_HOAP.php. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  18. ^ "Jan Hus Church Homeless Outreach Program". NYC Service. http://www.nycservice.org/organizations/1017. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  19. ^ Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
  20. ^ Deutsch, Claudia H. (December 27, 1992). "Houses of Worship Widening Rentals". New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CEEDE113CF934A15751C1A964958260&pagewanted=all. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  21. ^ "Jan Hus Playhouse – Manhattan – Classical & Opera". Time Out New York. http://newyork.timeout.com/music-nightlife/classical-opera/119633/jan-hus-playhouse. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  22. ^ "Jan Hus Playhouse". Barbratimeless.com. http://www.barbratimeless.com/Barbras%20New%20York%20Jan%20Hus.htm. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  23. ^ "Barbra Streisand Archives | Insect Comedy (1960)". Barbra-archives.com. http://barbra-archives.com/live/60s/insect_comedy.html. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  24. ^ "History of LOOM". Musicals101.com. http://www.musicals101.com/loomhistory.htm. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  25. ^ "About The Theater". Kennyandthevirginmary.info. http://www.kennyandthevirginmary.info/Kenny_&_The_Virgin_Mary/About_The_Theater.html. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  26. ^ a b "Improv Comedy in New York City | About CCL | A Brief History of". Chicago City Limits. June 1, 1980. http://www.chicagocitylimits.com/history.html. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
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  34. ^ New, The (June 6, 2008). "THE LISTINGS - CLASSICAL - Schedule". New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D03E0D6123EF935A35755C0A96E9C8B63&scp=11&sq=Jan%20Hus%20Presbyterian%20Church&st=cse. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  35. ^ "Home". Kennyandthevirginmary.info. http://www.kennyandthevirginmary.info/Kenny_&_The_Virgin_Mary/Home.html. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  36. ^ "Brooklyn College Center for Computer Music". Bcccm.org. http://www.bcccm.org/ieamf2006. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  37. ^ "Jan Hus Homeless Theatre Troupe". Do Something. June 17, 2011. http://www.dosomething.org/project/jan-hus-homeless-theatre-troupe. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 

External Links