Kostol Všetkých svätých v Henckovciach
The dominant landmark of the village Henckovce is the Roman Catholic church, built in the second half of the 13th century. It originally belonged to the now-vanished settlement of Hermanovce. It is assumed that the church was originally dedicated to Saint Stephen, the first King of Hungary, whose coat of arms and likeness can also be found in the church’s logo.
It is a typical rural church of its time: a single-nave building with a square presbytery and a cross vault. The original wooden flat ceiling has not been preserved. The church is surrounded by a wall, and within its grounds there is a bell tower connected to the church by a small shelter. A cemetery surrounds the site, and in the past it was fortified with defensive walls featuring loopholes, remnants of which still exist today.
The church has undergone several reconstructions. The first major one took place in the 17th century, when the wall and bell tower were added. Another reconstruction followed in 1900 after a fire destroyed the building, after which it was restored. The bell currently used for manual ringing dates back to 1901.
The interior contains Gothic wall paintings, likely depicting scenes from the legend of Saint Ladislaus, typical for the Gemer region. From the period when the church was used by Protestants, Renaissance paintings in the presbytery remain, showing the dialogue of Job with his friends, based on Luther’s Bible.
After a decline in Catholic believers, the church fell into disuse and decay. In recent years, however, restoration has begun. The civic association Gotická cesta, together with the municipality of Henckovce and the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, has worked on its rescue. The roof was replaced, the roof structure restored, and archaeological research was carried out.
In August 2017, the volunteer project “Seven Guardians” took place, involving architecture and history students who helped with restoration work and organized a concert and photo exhibition. Today, restoration continues: new wooden shingle roofs have been installed, and waterproofing has been completed. The church currently has no altar, and floor restoration is underway.
In the future, the church is planned to serve as an information point and part of the “Gothic Route,” connecting Gothic churches in the region.
Henckovce is also home to an Evangelical church from 1798, still in use today, featuring a valuable late Baroque altar.
After years of demanding restoration, the interior of the medieval Church of All Saints in Henckovce has been reopened in full beauty. The opening ceremony included lectures, a concert, and an art exhibition.
Information source: www.gotickacesta.sk
