Summary
After many years of effort, the small Moravian village of Gracehill in Co Antrim, Northern Ireland was designated as a World Heritage Site on Friday 26th July 2024, at the 46th World Heritage Committee of UNESCO held in New Delhi, India.
Northern Ireland achieves first Cultural WORLD HERITAGE SITE listing.
After many years of effort, the small Moravian village of Gracehill in Co Antrim, Northern Ireland was designated as a World Heritage Site on Friday 26th July 2024, at the 46th World Heritage Committee of UNESCO held in New Delhi, India. You can watch the proceedings here:
(46th Session of the World Heritage Committee, 26 July 2024 AM (youtube.com)
This is Northern Ireland’s first Cultural designation the only other World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland being the Giants Causeway which is a natural site.
Gracehill, the only complete Moravian Settlement in Ireland and Northern Ireland’s first designated Conservation Area is part of a Transnational Designation. This means there is one listing but several sites in different countries. The Designation is entitled “Moravian Church Settlements” and includes Bethlehem, (Pennsylvania, USA), Herrnhut (Germany) and the already inscribed Christiansfeld (Denmark) in addition to Gracehill (NI/UK). Details of international partners can be seen here (https://moravianchurchsettlements.org/)
Gracehill Settlement is an early example of town planning reflecting the timeless values of education, equality, industry, tolerance, and spirituality that have been at the heart of this community since 1759. Its intact core of historic listed buildings, Moravian Church, central Square, and burial ground or God’s Acre as it is known, featured in the nomination. Each of the Settlements nominated demonstrate different phases in the development of Moravian planning. Gracehill stands out as having been constructed in a grid plan with a central square and a very clear and complete ‘gender axis’. Since its foundation Gracehill was well known for its international links which continue today.
Gracehill is historically renowned for its principles of religious and political tolerance, neutrality, and reconciliation, first manifested significantly during the ‘United Irishmen’s Rebellion’ of 1798 when Gracehill was seen as a place of refuge for all.
The Gracehill community have been working with international partners since 2003 to achieve World Heritage recognition. In 2015 the Settlement of Christiansfeld, Denmark achieved inscription on the UNESCO List and Gracehill continued to work with Bethlehem (USA) and Herrnhut (Germany) as part of a transnational nomination for extension of the Danish listing. This was led by Bethlehem in Pennsylvania with the support of the US Government.
Speaking following the announcement:
Bishop Sarah Groves, Gracehill Moravian Church, said she was: “Thrilled that the significance of the Moravian Church internationally and its culture, history and heritage have been recognised by the World Heritage Committee. For Gracehill it shows that what we have in terms of our history, buildings, layout and archives and, also in our living culture and faith is of local, regional and international importance. World Heritage status gives Gracehill the protection it deserves and will enable us to develop our research and international links further.”
Dr David Johnston, Chair of Gracehill Trust, said: “The prize of a cultural World Heritage listing is a huge good news story for Northern Ireland as a whole, something that everyone can share in and be proud of, with the potential to promote understanding and reconciliation and bring social, economic and cultural benefits right across the region now and for generations to come.
We are fortunate and thankful to have had the enthusiastic support of the whole community, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, the Northern Ireland Department for Communities and the UK Department of Culture, Media and Sport as well as the wholehearted and unstinting backing of our international partners.”
Alderman Beth Adger MBE, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, said: “This is absolutely wonderful news and a historic time for Gracehill, Mid and East Antrim, and indeed all of Northern Ireland.
“This landmark World Heritage Status for the only complete Moravian Settlement in Ireland will bring tremendous benefits to Mid and East Antrim by considerably raising the global profile of the Borough, supporting the local economy and positively impacting on education, quality of life and civic pride.
I am delighted it has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, joining a list of some of the world’s most iconic sites, such as the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, and the Pyramids. Well done to everyone involved in bringing this forward. What an achievement!
A first cultural World Heritage site for Northern Ireland is an unparalleled achievement in terms of the opportunities for domestic and international tourism. I know how tirelessly everyone involved in this bid has worked to bring it to this stage and I thank them for their dedication and commitment.”
Gordon Lyons, Northern Ireland Communities Minister welcomed the announcement, commenting: “I am delighted that the cultural importance of Gracehill to the world has been recognised through the UNESCO designation. In recent years, my department has worked with the Gracehill community to maintain the village and develop their World Heritage bid. We have supported listed building repairs and provided advice and, since the US formally decided to proceed in 2021, we have contributed to the nomination costs. Gracehill is a special place with an active community and this recognition of a small village on the world stage is a great endorsement, helping to remind us all that Northern Ireland has a fascinating heritage that is well worth exploring.”
Sir Chris Bryant, UK Government Culture Minister said:
“Gracehill has been rightly cherished by the local community since its foundation in 1759 as a town built around the central values of equality and tolerance and I am glad to see it gain the recognition that it deserves.
I look forward to working together with the international community and my counterparts in Northern Ireland to celebrate the Gracehill site and ensure the Moravian traditions live on to be passed onto future generations.”
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Fleur Anderson, said:
“I am delighted to see the Moravian Church settlement becoming a new member of the globally renowned list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.”This is an exciting moment for the community of Gracehill and a huge achievement for everyone involved in the bid. The significance of it is carried throughout Northern Ireland and the whole United Kingdom. Northern Ireland has a rich heritage and is home to many culturally significant sites, and I have no doubt this accolade will encourage more visitors to come and see them for themselves.”
Professor Mike Robinson, Non-Executive Director, Culture at the United
National Commission for UNESCO said:
“We are delighted that the Moravian Church Settlements, including Gracehill in
Northern Ireland, Herrnhut in Germany, and Bethlehem in the United States of
America, have been inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in recognition
of their Outstanding Universal Value. Along with Christiansfeld, a Moravian Church Settlement (Denmark) that was inscribed onto the World Heritage List in 2015, the inscription not only represents the international reach of the Moravian community, but also highlights the opportunities, where appropriate, for World Heritage transnational-serial nominations to bring communities together through their shared histories.”
The Church of Ireland’s Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop John McDowell, has offered his congratulations to Bishop Sarah Groves and the Moravian community in Ireland following the announcement that Gracehill has been recognised as a World Heritage Site.
“Anyone who has visited the Moravian settlement in Gracehill will have been struck immediately by its very distinctive atmosphere of peace and orderliness, qualities often in short supply in our modern lives,” Archbishop McDowell remarked.
“Gracehill is a place of spiritual healing and of solid physical beauty which has now been recognised as such by this UNESCO award.”
In recent years, the Church of Ireland and the Moravian Church in Britain and Ireland have been developing a closer formal relationship which will allow for clergy from both denominations to serve in either.
Bishop Michael Burrows, who serves as the Church of Ireland Co-Chair of the Church of Ireland-Moravian Reference Group alongside Moravian Bishop Sarah Groves, added: “I’m thrilled to hear this great news from Gracehill. Bishop Sarah and her community deserve our warmest congratulations.
“On my many visits to that place of history, holiness and beauty I have found that its very atmosphere is the midwife of trust, friendship and ecumenical fruitfulness. I hope that many more people in the years to come will find that a visit to Gracehill sends them on their way rejoicing.”
To celebrate the Armagh Agreement, consolidating the new relationship between the two Churches, a special service took place on Monday, 18th March 2024, in St Patrick’s Church, Ballymena, and continuing in Gracehill Moravian Church, accompanied with tree-planting in the Square and a reception in the Cennick Hall.
Further Media Links:
UK Government: Department of Culture, Media and Sport:
US Government Announcement:
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8809jgn9d8o
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4ngy61yre8o
BBC Radio Interview
To follow
ITV
https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2024-07-26/gracehill-honoured-with-unesco-world-heritage-site-status
Danish TV including interview with David Johnston
Nyheder 29. jul. 2024 | TV SYD – footage from 1.40 -8.55 minutes.