Moravian Church Settlements – Bethlehem

Established in 1741 as a planned community, the Historic Moravian Bethlehem District was the religious and administrative center of Moravian activities in North America. The Bethlehem district, along with two other historic Moravian Church Settlements in Gracehill, Northern Ireland/UK and Herrnhut, Germany join Christiansfeld, Denmark (inscribed in 2015) as a single World Heritage site, the Moravian Church Settlements.

1 of 3
Gemeinhaus, Bethlehem
The 1741 Gemeinhaus, or Community House, home of the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, is believed to be the largest 18th-century log structure in continuous use in the United States. Constructed in the German Colonial style, it was built between 1741 and 1743. In the early years of the Settlement the entire community, approximately 80 people, lived in this structure that served as home, church, school, workplace, and hospital.

2 of 3
Single Sisters’ House
Built in 1744, the Single Sisters’ House was the residence and workplace of the Single Sisters’ Choir (a social group arranged by age, gender, and marital status). Under the Moravian “General Economy,” in effect until the 1760s, each inhabitant labored for the community in return for food shelter, medical care, and education. Long after the General Economy was abandoned in the 1760s, the Single Sisters’ House provided housing for unmarried women in Bethlehem. Today, the Single Sisters’ House is part of the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, presenting exhibitions and programming telling the stories of its inhabitants and the historic structure, which served as a safe residence for women for 260 years.

3 of 3
God’s Acre Cemetery
God’s Acre Cemetery (dating from 1742-1910) sits on over 3 acres in downtown Bethlehem. Moravian cemeteries feature flat, uniform, simply carved grave markers displaying the Moravians unusual view of equality in life and death.