In mid-October, celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren (Českobratrská církev evangelická) congregation in Liberec took place. As part of the event, Magdalena delivered a lecture entitled Protestanti na Liberecku – mezi státem, hranicemi a vyznáním (“Protestants in the Liberec Region – Between the State, Borders and Faith”).
The event brought together congregation members, clergy, invited guests, and members of former pastors’ families. Magdalena presented the history of Protestantism in the Liberec region from the nineteenth century to the present day, exploring the transformations of local Protestant communities in the context of political, social, and religious change. The lecture began by examining the origins of Protestant congregations in Jablonec nad Nisou, Liberec, and Frýdlant, as well as the construction of their churches. It then explored the changes brought about by the establishment of Czechoslovakia and the end of the Second World War. Particular attention was paid to the impact of state policies, interdenominational relations, and changing borders on the functioning and development of local Protestant communities.
The lecture offered an opportunity to explore the history of Protestantism in the region through the lens of Magdalena’s research into religious heritage and the transformations of religious communities in post-displacement regions. It also provided an opportunity to meet people for whom the congregation’s history remains an important part of their family and local memory.
