Who We Are

Our presence in Bethlehem began in 1741, when Moravian settlers built a log house on the east bank of the Monocacy Creek. From this vantage point on the frontier of Pennsylvania, they planned to serve unchurched German settlers and to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the Native Americans in the region. On December 24, 1741, their leader Count Zinzendorf, named this new place of ministry, Bethlehem. On June 25, 1742, the congregation officially organized making Central Moravian Church Bethlehem’s first congregation and the oldest Moravian Church in North America.

Our missionary settlers in Bethlehem were part of one of the oldest recognized Protestant denominations in the world, the Unitas Fratrum or the Unity of the Brethren which began in 1457 in what is now the Czech Republic. After years of persecution in their native land, many from the old Unity immigrated to Germany where they began settling on Zinzendorf’s estate in 1722. With a renewed spirit of purpose, they began sending out missionaries in 1732 and over the years developed a far-flung mission movement that lives on today in Moravian churches, schools, and communities in Europe, the Caribbean, Central America, North America, South America, Nepal, and Africa.

Central Moravian Church carries on the work begun by those who first settled in Bethlehem. Worshipping in the Chapel built in 1751 and the Sanctuary, completed in 1806, Central nurtures the faith of its members, supports mission work in Tanzania and Nepal, and takes an active part in the life of the Lehigh Valley community. Children, youth, and adults participate in music, fellowship, and educational groups. The church provides comfort to those in need by sharing food and clothing and offering support and shelter to refugees and the homeless. In fellowship with the other Moravian Churches in the Bethlehem area, we seek a heart-felt relationship with Jesus Christ and a rich community life together.