Easter collection will support reconstruction in Čáslav

Accept our invitation to Čáslav. To a place where Protestants literally live and work in the centre of the city.

Not only are the parish grounds just a few steps away from the central square, but the church, parsonage and garden are regularly opened up for various cultural, social and community activities. In addition to church services and other spiritual gatherings, there are also social, charitable and community events. There are concerts, festivals, intergenerational meetings, fair trade events, lectures and film screenings... In short, it's lively!

One of the most important rooms for these numerous meetings is the hall in the basement of the parsonage: the Komenský Hall.

And it is precisely this hall that is to undergo a careful and demanding renovation in the coming years so that it not only provides a worthy setting for worship gatherings in winter, but also a lively community and social life throughout the year that brings people of all generations together.

Visualisation of the Komenský Hall after renovation

You can also participate

This year's church-wide Easter collection of the Jeronýmová jednota - ‘Hlavní dar lásky’ - will contribute to the successful renovation.

We cordially invite you to participate. You can participate with your donation on Easter Sunday in any congregation of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren or by bank transfer to the IBAN below. Help us by publicising and spreading the word about the collection. We thank you!

Bank details
Ceskobratrska Cirkev Evangelicka
IBAN: CZ61 2700 0000 0071 7171 7171 (SWIFT-BIC: BACXCZPP)
Purpose/reference: 914200

...but the invitation doesn't have to stay in the virtual world. Come to Čáslav in person! Experience the local community, its openness and hospitality for yourself. You can also get an impression by watching the following video:

Towards oneself

The Čáslav people named the reconstruction project after a sign on the door: ‘K sobě’ [literally ‘towards oneself’, in the sense of ‘pull’]. The name of the project also points to the philosophy with which they open their rooms for various activities: They invite people to come together to be closer to each other. Anyone who is interested in community life, who is looking for a place of refuge or a community, can find a place here that they can call home. At the Lord's table and in common prayer, or simply: in good work that has meaning.

And who will find refuge here?

The Komenský Hall hosts concerts, lectures, theatre performances, workshops, community camps, public events, charity events in cooperation with the neighbouring Diaconia and more. After the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the Komenský Hall, together with the bastion behind the Protestant church, was also used for activities for Ukrainian refugees: Czech language courses, women's circles, exercises, lectures, snacks, etc.

About the project

‘In 2027, the parsonage will celebrate its 100th birthday. To mark this anniversary, we would like to renovate it, as the premises of the Komenský Hall and its furnishings are no longer suitable for the wide range of events that we organise here,’ say the initiators of the project, describing what prompted them to consider such an extensive renovation of the hall. 

What changes will the parsonage cellar undergo?

‘The entire parsonage is the work of the well-known architect Bohumír Kozák, who spent his childhood and youth in Čáslav, and therefore we want to approach the renovation of the Komenský Hall carefully, while recognising that some changes are necessary,’ the Čáslav people explain their plans. These include, among other things:

• Construction of barrier-free access for elderly and disabled people, for families with young children and for clients of the Diaconia of the ECCB
• Construction of a new barrier-free toilet and shower
• Construction of a new kitchen and other facilities for social gatherings and events

‘As the Komenský Hall is located below street level, extensive renovation work is required in the first phase in addition to the changes mentioned above, such as new electrical wiring, heating, waste disposal, new flooring, a new community kitchen and much more,’ the statement continues.

Everything is ready

The Čáslav Protestants are working on this project with Ing. Radka Neumanová. The project documentation is available and a valid building permit has been issued. In 2024, the parsonage was also entered in the register of monuments, which will probably make it possible to use other sources of funding, e.g. subsidies for listed buildings.

The aim of the project is to create a pleasant and safe meeting place not only for members of the congregation, members of the Seniorate and the Diaconia of the ECCB, but also for the public, neighbouring schools and the Ukrainian community. The first phase of the renovation will be followed by the second phase, in which the Komenský Hall itself will be remodelled - new flooring, painting, lighting, acoustic improvement of the room. 

From history

In 1927, a new Protestant parsonage was built in Čáslav according to the design of the well-known architect B. Kozák, the son of Čáslav's Protestant minister František Kozák.

The minister's flat, office and presbytery are located on the first and second floors, while the Komenský Hall and associated facilities are in the basement of the parsonage.This hall was originally intended as a lecture hall for the Marta charity organisation, which had been active in the Protestant congregation in Čáslav since 1889. Then the hall began to be used for church services in the winter season and it still serves this purpose today.