300th Anniversary
1722 ~ 2022
On June 17, 1722, Christian David fells a tree as the first act of establishing a settlement for religious refugees from Moravia. Today, we celebrate the 300th anniversary of the founding of Herrnhut!
Check out this wonderful animated film (German with English subtitles) created to mark the occasion!
The Herrnhut Organ; Refurbished, Restored, Improved!
The organ was removed a couple of years ago to be refurbished and has been re-installed for its inaugural concerts on May 13-14, 2022.
Concert live-streaming links have been shared:
May 13, 5:00pm in Herrnhut (11am EST) – Formal Dedication
https://youtu.be/idndx6kDKo8
May 13, 7:30pm in Herrnhut (1:30pm EST) – Inauguration Concert
https://youtu.be/sybKjjmdbOw
May 14, 7:30 pm (1:30pm EST) – Festival Ode with music by Moravian composers (including Jaeschke, Bechler, Kubath)
https://youtu.be/ZGI5n-oDfN4
The Celebration of Herrnhut’s 300th Anniversary will last all year, but the main events will take place during the week of June 12 – 19, 2022.
Two years ago, the Ministry President of Sachsen (Saxony), Mr. Michael Kretschmer, presented the Herrnhut Church with two grants for the restoration and preservation of the historic Schuster organ in the Saal. The grants represent about €527,000 Euros from the Sachsen Ministry of Culture and Media (Minister Prof. Monika Grütters) for the preservation and conservation of monuments (antiquities). The congregation continues efforts to raise an additional €60,000 Euros.
Schuster Organ
The organ refurbishment and restoration strives to recreate the historic sound and acoustic of an 18th century organ. The organ will have additional stops added, in the style of American organ builder, David Tannenberg. His historical technical plans, preserved in the United States, are being consulted. Tannenberg’s family was from Herrnhut and he emigrated to America in 1748.
These 18th century organs were made to produce a light and lovely sound so that the congregational singing was heard prominently. “We are thankful, now, that we are able to attack this project of an organ renovation under these special arrangements,” said Pastor Peter Vogt. “To create an instrument truly unique that makes it possible again to perform in a similar style of the Moravian composers of the early days of Herrnhut.”
To support the organ renovation, restoration, and re-installation, please send US checks (payable to “Moravian Archives”) in any amount ($US dollars) to the Moravian Archives, 41 W. Locust Street, Bethlehem, PA. Please write “Herrnhut 300” in the memo field and the Archives will deposit it in the appropriate account and transfer the funds to the Herrnhut Congregation.
Co-Pastors Peter and Jill Vogt and the entire congregation and town of Herrnhut are sincerely grateful for your generosity!
At the end of the Second World War, the Kirchensaal fell victim to a devastating fire. With great effort, the Church rebuilt the hall in a simplified form in the 1950s. After the political change in 1989, the roof and the outer facade could be renewed. Now, the Saal has been completely reconstructed to its old splendor, together with the organ and the adjoining community rooms.
The Renewed Moravian Church
Unitas Fratrum; Herrnhuter Brüdergemeine; Brüder-Unität
Herrnhut was founded in 1722 and was the original settlement of religious refugees of Bohemian Brethren (Unitas Fratrum).
Herrnhut means the Lord’s watchful care or the Lord’s protection.
The German nobleman Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700–1760), after meeting with their leader, Christian David, invited the refugees to settle on his extended Berthelsdorf estates. Zinzendorf himself had a new residence erected here in 1725–1727).
Herrnhut is still the center of the living history of the Moravians. From this place the Daily Texts go out into the whole world. This is where the famous Moravian Advent stars are made. Thousands of guests visit the place every year and are inspired by the spirituality, the architecture, and the community of faith.
Thank you for sharing this information & the links to those sites. One of my ancestors was a Johann Crouse (Krause / Krause) who lived near Salem (now Winston-Salem, NC). I have been trying to determine if he was the same person as the John (Johann / Johannesburg) Crouse / Krause / Krause that was skilled craftsman who helped David Tannenberg install & maintain the organ there. He also helped with the clock on Home Moravian church, the Salem fire wagon, & the water pump on the Salem Square. Any help in confirming or disproving this would be greatly appreciated.
We have a published “Frey” genealogy publication here. You would have to contact the Archives for research. You could come in and start reading memoirs of the family. There is no Archivist or staff currently, so call first. 722-1742