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Jan Hus Presbyterian Church

Coordinates:40°46′10.3″N73°57′19.9″W/ 40.769528°N 73.955528°W/40.769528; -73.955528
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Avenue Church NYC (formerly, Jan Hus Presbyterian Church)
Jan Hus Presbyterian Church (2012)
Map
40°46′10.3″N73°57′19.9″W/ 40.769528°N 73.955528°W/40.769528; -73.955528
Location1745First Avenue,New York City,New York10128
CountryUnited States
DenominationPresbyterian Church USA
Websiteavenuechurchnyc.org
History
Founded1877
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architect(s)R.H. Robertson
Architectural typeBohemianGothic Revival[1]
Completed1888
Clergy
Pastor(s)The Reverend Dr. Jordan A. Tarwater
Plaque of Vincent Picek at the Jan Hus Presbyterian Church

Avenue Church NYC,formerly known as Jan Hus Presbyterian Church, is a Christian congregation on theUpper East SideofManhattanin New York City, associated with thePresbyterian Church USA.[2]It is the oldest historicallyCzechPresbyteriancongregation in the US, having been founded in 1877, and the church building was opened in 1888.[3]

The church was originally named forJan Hus,aBohemianpriest who was a theologian and reformer.[4]The church is in the area that was once known asLittle Bohemia.Once a center of the Czech community, the church now has a diversified inclusionist congregation.

The church ran an active Neighborhood House that promoted music, theater, and culture and operated a homeless outreach program. The church basement includes a 150-seat theatre that was home toGilbert and Sullivanperforming groups almost continuously from 1952 to 1975.Chicago City Limitsperformed there throughout the 1980s. Since then, several arts organizations have been based at the theatre.

In 2019, the Session of Jan Hus Presbyterian sold the 23,000-square-foot (2,100 m2) church building located at 351East 74th Street,New York City,New York,inManhattan'sUpper East Sideto purchase a more modern facility to meet the growing needs of the congregation and their large community outreach missions.[5]Their new property, located at 1745First Avenue,New York City, New York, is scheduled to open in early 2020.[6][7]

History[edit]

The church was founded in 1877 when Gustav Alexy, aHungarianmissionary, wanted to work among theCzechcommunity.[8][9]The building was designed byR.H. Robertsonand built in 1888, and bears the inscription"Truth Prevails",a famous Jan Hus saying. The church sits down the block from the Byzantine Moderne-style Greek OrthodoxArchdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.[10]

When Pastor Alexy died in 1880, the newly officialPresbyterian Churchasked 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 ofBohemia.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.[11]

With thousands of Czech parishioners when the church started,[12][13]the congregation has changed greatly with the Czech community dispersing over the years. By the 1950s, Jan Hus Church was no longer predominantly Czech.[14]Jan Hus Church has not had a Czech pastor since the 1960s.[15]

Ray Bagnuolo[16]became the pastor August 2, 2009.[17][18]

Jan Hus was among the first churches to become anOpen and Affirmingcongregation for the full inclusion of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender people in church life[14][19][20][21]The church is now one of many congregations associated withMore Light Presbyterians.

Jan Hus Neighborhood House[edit]

Through the efforts Vincenc Pisek ofMalesov,the successor of Gustav Alexy ofRoznov,the new modern Czech Brethren Presbyterian House was built in 1888.[22]

Among its many community efforts Jan Hus Church organized a homeless outreach program called HOAP.[23]The program HOAP assists more than 50 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 receives mail for over 500 people.[24]

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 (4.9 m) 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.[4][25]

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.[26]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,marionettetheatre, and music. Located on the easternmost portion of our building, the Neighborhood House was to be a cultural and social center for theBohemianpeople, 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.[8][18][27]

Jan Hus Playhouse Theater[edit]

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

From 1952 to 1967, the 150-seat theater served as the home of theAmerican Savoyards.In May 1960, The Actors' Co-op performed a revival of theInsect Comedy,withBarbra Streisandin her first New York role.[28][29]

From 1969 to 1975, the theater became the home of LOOM (Light Opera of Manhattan), which was anOff-Broadwayrepertory theater company performing 52 weeks per year. Both LOOM and the American Savoyards employed comedianRaymond Allen.[30][31]

From 1981 to 1992,Chicago City Limits(a New York City improv comedy troupe) made Jan Hus their home. Chicago City Limits performed seven nights a week, with Friday night serving as Stand-Up Comedian Night, hostingRobin Williams,Jerry Seinfeld,Jon Stewart,Paul Reiser,Brett Butler,Larry Miller,andBill Irwin.[18][32][33]The Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre Company was also based at Jan Hus in the 1990s. The puppets that helped found the marionette theater company were discovered at Jan Hus Church.[34][35]

Since 2006, The Remarkable Theater Brigade used Jan Hus as their home for several productions.[36]In 2007, Remarkable Theater Brigade broughtVox Novusand itsComposer's Voice Concert Seriesto Jan Hus Church[37]where the two organizations in collaboration with Jan Hus have a monthly concert performance since June of that year.[38][39]In 2008, Remarkable Theater Brigade producedGLORY DENIED,an opera by Tom Cipullo adapted from a book by journalist Tom Philpott aboutJim Thompson,the longest-held American prisoner of war in Vietnam.[40]

Several other art performances and art organizations have performed at Jah Hus Playhouse, including: Kenny & The Virgin Mary,[18][41]2006 international Electro-Acoustic Music Festival,[42]and the Jan Hus Homeless Theatre Troupe.[43]

See also[edit]

Articles[edit]

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

References[edit]

  1. ^White, Norval;Willensky, Elliot; Leadon, Fran (2010).AIA Guide to New York City(5th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p.471.ISBN978-0-19538-386-7.
  2. ^"Congregations in Manhattan: Presbytery of New York City".Nycpresbytery.org. May 4, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-10-03.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  3. ^"From breweries and baseball to 'cigar tenements' and German Broadway: 10 secrets of Yorkville".
  4. ^ab"Jan Hus Presbyterian Church – New York City".Nycago.org. Archived fromthe originalon July 27, 2011.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  5. ^"UES Churches Selling Buildings in Dual Transactions: Reports".18 December 2018.
  6. ^FEIDEN, DOUGLAS (2019-12-14)."EXCLUSIVE: Two fabled UES churches sold".Our Town.
  7. ^Feiden, Douglas."Jan Hus buys soccer shop".Our Town.
  8. ^ab"A Short History of Jan Hus Presbyterian Church and Neighborhood House".Janhus.org. Archived fromthe originalon October 3, 2011.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  9. ^"The Jan Hus Church in New York – a remnant of the Upper East Side's Czech past – Radio Prague".Radio.cz.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  10. ^White, N.; Willensky, E.; Leadon, F. (2010).AIA Guide to New York City.Oxford University Press, USA. p. 968.ISBN9780199772919.RetrievedMay 14,2015.
  11. ^"Memorial Tablet to Dr. Pisek, 50 Years Pastor, Is Unveiled at Jan Hus Presbyterian Church".The New York Times.July 3, 2011.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  12. ^Crossette, Barbara (September 10, 1976)."In Search of the Czechoslovak East Side".The New York Times.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  13. ^"CZECH WORSHIPERS TO MARK 75 YEARS – Three Generations Will Honor Presbyterian Church Named for Jan Hus, the Martyr".The New York Times.July 3, 2011.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  14. ^ab"About Us".Janhus.org. Archived fromthe originalon October 3, 2011.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  15. ^Berger, Joseph (April 7, 2006)."On the Upper East Side, Memories Fueled by Strudel".The New York Times.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  16. ^"Sermons".Raybagnuolo.net. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-09-08.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  17. ^Tremba, Kristin J. (March 5, 2010)."The Layman Online".Layman.org. Archived fromthe originalon July 22, 2011.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  18. ^abcd"Second Chance for Jan Hus Theater".OurTownNY. April 28, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon October 8, 2011.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  19. ^"Presbyterians continue to be divided over gays".Newsday.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  20. ^"219th GA Overture Advocate Rev. Ray Bagnuolo on Amendment 10A".Amendment10a.org. November 1, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon September 3, 2011.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  21. ^Gonzalez, David (March 29, 1997)."Anti-Gay Rule Stirs Protest At a Church".The New York Times.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  22. ^Miloslav Rechcigl Jr."Gateway to America".Jewishgen.org.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  23. ^"NWHS Homeless Outreach & Advocacy Project".Northwesthumanservices.org. Archived fromthe originalon May 29, 2011.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  24. ^"Jan Hus Church Homeless Outreach Program".NYC Service.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  25. ^Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
  26. ^Deutsch, Claudia H. (December 27, 1992)."Houses of Worship Widening Rentals".New York Times.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  27. ^"Jan Hus Playhouse – Manhattan – Classical & Opera".Time Out New York.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  28. ^"Jan Hus Playhouse".Barbratimeless. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-09-05.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  29. ^"Barbra Streisand Archives | Insect Comedy (1960)".Barbra-archives.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  30. ^"History of LOOM".Musicals101.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  31. ^"About The Theater".Kennyandthevirginmary.info. Archived fromthe originalon June 16, 2011.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  32. ^"Improv Comedy in New York City | About CCL | A Brief History of".Chicago City Limits. June 1, 1980. Archived fromthe originalon July 20, 2011.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  33. ^"Chicago City Limits".OurTownNY. April 28, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon October 8, 2011.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  34. ^"About Camt".Czechmarionettes.org. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-11-24.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  35. ^http:// theaterforthenewcity.net/revolution.htm.RetrievedMarch 19,2011.{{cite web}}:Missing or empty|title=(help)[dead link]
  36. ^"2006/2007".Remarkabletheaterbrigade. Archived fromthe originalon July 26, 2011.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  37. ^"2007/2008".Remarkabletheaterbrigade. Archived fromthe originalon July 26, 2011.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  38. ^"2008/2009".Remarkabletheaterbrigade. Archived fromthe originalon July 26, 2011.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  39. ^"2009/2010".Remarkabletheaterbrigade. Archived fromthe originalon July 26, 2011.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  40. ^New, The (June 6, 2008)."THE LISTINGS – CLASSICAL – Schedule".New York Times.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  41. ^"Home".Kennyandthevirginmary.info. Archived fromthe originalon May 10, 2010.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  42. ^"Brooklyn College Center for Computer Music".Bcccm.org.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.
  43. ^"Jan Hus Homeless Theatre Troupe".Do Something. June 17, 2011. Archived fromthe originalon July 25, 2011.RetrievedJuly 24,2011.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jan_Hus_Presbyterian_Church&oldid=1195903942"