Bethlehem site joins an
esteemed group of historic locations in Denmark, Northern
Ireland, and Germany
NEW
DELHI and BETHLEHEM,
Pa., July 26, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --
Today, J. William Reynolds,
Mayor of the City of Bethlehem and
Chair of the Bethlehem World Heritage Council and Commission along
with Bethlehem Area Moravians, Central Moravian Church, Historic
Bethlehem Museums & Sites, and Moravian University is pleased
to announce that Moravian Church Settlements (MCS) has been
inscribed on the prestigious World Heritage List at the World
Heritage Committee meeting in New Delhi,
India, July 21-31, 2024.
"Our community has long cherished and
preserved Moravian Church Settlements — Bethlehem, and we are honored to receive this
global recognition," declared Mayor Reynolds.
The historic Moravian Church Settlements of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania/USA; Gracehill,
Northern Ireland/UK; and Herrnhut,
Germany now join Christiansfeld,
Denmark (already inscribed in
2015) as a single World Heritage site that represents the
outstanding universal value of these historic settlements and the
worldwide influence of the Moravian Church.
Moravian Church Settlements — Bethlehem becomes the 26th World Heritage site
in the United States.
With its intact core of original buildings, Moravian Church
Settlements – Bethlehem preserves
some of the most important structures and sites relating to the
Moravians in the New World and is significant as an outstanding
example of Moravian architecture and town planning. The settlement
played a key role in both the international and American Moravian
communities.
Located in the heart of downtown Bethlehem, the site spans 10 acres. It
includes nine structures, four ruins, and God's Acre cemetery, all
within the already designated Historic Moravian Bethlehem National
Historic Landmark District — one of only eight Landmark Districts
in Pennsylvania and one of just
over 200 in the nation.
It stands as a reflection of and tribute to the resilience of a
community built on universal human ideals that are essential and
relevant to this day. Moravian Church Settlements – Bethlehem preserves and advances the ageless
values of education, equality, industry, integrity, and
spirituality that have been part of the community since 1741.
The inscription is expected to significantly boost cultural
tourism to Bethlehem, attracting
visitors from around the world eager to experience firsthand the
rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant Moravian
traditions still alive in the community. Local museums, historic
sites, and festivals are also likely to draw larger crowds —
further strengthening Bethlehem's
position as a major cultural destination.
"Our community has long cherished and preserved Moravian Church
Settlements — Bethlehem, and we
are honored to receive this global recognition," declared Mayor
Reynolds. "The designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is a
profound testament to the unmatched historical and cultural
significance of Bethlehem and the
enduring legacy of the Moravian Church."
This is the first Transnational, Serial Nomination put forth by
the United States and is the
result of a decades-long effort among Bethlehem Area Moravians,
Central Moravian Church, City of
Bethlehem, Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites, Moravian
University, and with the support of Northampton County and others.
"We extend our deepest gratitude to all those whose passion and
unwavering support have been instrumental in our efforts and have
played a crucial role in reaching this momentous milestone," added
Mayor Reynolds. "We also recognize the Office of International
Affairs of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the
Interior, and the World Heritage Committee for affirming the
cultural significance of these sites."
More information can be found on moravianchurchsettlements.org,
launching today.
ABOUT MORAVIAN CHURCH SETTLEMENTS
Moravian Church Settlements is a transnational extension of
Christiansfeld, a Moravian Church Settlement in Denmark founded in 1773 and inscribed on the
World Heritage List in 2015. The Moravian Church is a Protestant
denomination in the free church tradition centered in Herrnhut,
Saxony, Germany. The extension
includes three additional component parts:
Bethlehem (USA) was established in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania in 1741. This
highlights the early transatlantic dimension of the Moravian Church
phenomenon during a prolific settlement-building decade and added
the cultural dimension of the Moravians' outreach to Native
Americans.
Gracehill (UK) was founded in Northern
Ireland in 1759. It represents the significance of the
Moravian Church in the UK and exemplifies a unique series of
'ideal' urban plans that demonstrate a notable gender axis. This is
showcased by the division of the town plan into a sisters' side and
a brothers' side, which directly reflects the fundamental
functional structure of Moravian society.
Herrnhut (Germany) is
considered the 'mother' or 'founding town' of the Renewed Moravian
Church. It was established in 1722 in Saxony and evolved in line
with the development of Moravian theology and societal ideals. This
town defined the principles of all Moravian Church settlements.
MEDIA CONTACTS
- Bethlehem: Craig Larimer, larimerc@moravian.edu
- Christiansfeld: Steen Rosenvinge Lundbye,
srl@museumkolding.dk
- Gracehill: David Johnston, johnstonni@aol.com
- Herrnhut: Friederike Hansell,
friederikehansell@gmail.com
Media Contact
Craig
Larimer, Moravian Church Settlements – Bethlehem, 610-360-0419,
larimerc@moravian.edu
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SOURCE Moravian Church Settlements - Bethlehem