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Lexicon Moravian Mission Church _____________________________________________________ The Moravian Church is the oldest Protestant denomination emerged from the Bohemian Reformation. This church's nickname comes from the original exiles who came to Saxony in 1722 from Moravia to escape persecution, but its religious heritage began in 1457 in Kunvald, Bohemia, today part of the Czech Republic, an autonomous kingdom within the Holy Roman Empire. The Moravian Church places a high premium on Christian unity, personal piety, missions, and music. (Wikipedia) The Moravian Mission was the first missionary society in South Africa when one of its missionaries, Georg Schmidt, established a mission station at Baviaanskloof (later renamed Genadendal = Valley of Grace) in the Cape Province in 1737. After some confrontations with neighbouring Boer farmers and the dominant Dutch Reformed Church, Schmidt was forced to leave the Cape. When the Moravians were allowed to return in 1792, the missionaries found remnants of the first missionary congregation still active. From Genadendal the mission spread throughout the Cape colony. As building type A building designed for public worship by members of the Moravian community. [An interesting article on the history of the bells of these churches can be found here] Moravian Mission Church buildings on this website Moravian Church for the United Brethren: 1818. Mamre, Western Cape Moravian Mission Church: 1840. Clarkson, Eastern Cape Moravian Mission Church: 1834-1835. Elim, Western Cape Moravian Mission Church: 1896. Goedverwacht, Western Cape Moravian Mission Church: 1854. Goshen, Eastern Cape Moravian Mission Church: 1911. Wittewater, Western Cape Moravian Mission Church - Second: c1890. Genadendal, Western Cape Moravian Mission Church and Mission Station: 1821. Enon, Eastern Cape Moravian Mission Station at Elukholweni: 1875. Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), Eastern Cape Shiloh Moravian Mission Station: 1828. Whittlesea, Eastern Cape