Fulneck Moravian Church facts for kids
Fulneck Moravian Church and its nearby community were started in Fulneck, Pudsey, England, in 1744. A Moravian Bishop named Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf founded it. He received land from Benjamin Ingham, a religious leader. Fulneck is now part of the City of Leeds, West Yorkshire.
Contents
History of Fulneck
How Fulneck Started
The Moravian Church began in 1457 and was renewed in 1722. Its leaders first came to England in 1728. They wanted to build good relationships with the Church of England. They also helped with missionary work in the American colonies.
In 1738, a Moravian group started in Fetter Lane, London. Famous brothers John Wesley and Charles were part of this group for a while.
In Yorkshire, a priest named Benjamin Ingham had many small Christian groups. He asked the Moravians for help. In 1742, Moravian Bishop August Gottlieb Spangenberg agreed to start a "Yorkshire Congregation." The Moravians set up their main base at Smith House near Halifax.
In 1743, Zinzendorf visited a Moravian family in Pudsey. He loved the view from the Falneck ridge. He decided to build a settlement there, like one in Germany. Benjamin Ingham bought the land and gave part of it to the Moravians for building.
Naming the Settlement
The Moravians first called Fulneck "Lamb’s Hill." This name came from the Bible, referring to the Lamb of God and a "City Set Upon A Hill." They used this name from 1744 to 1760. The church building was called Grace Hall until 1763.
After that, they chose the name Fulneck. It was similar to the original English name, Falneck. It also honored Bishop John Amos Comenius. He had served the Bohemian Brethren in Fulnek, Moravia.
Moravian Community Life
In the 1700s, Moravian settlements were like small, self-contained towns. They usually had a chapel, special houses for single men, single women, and widows. They also had schools and an inn.
Single members lived, worked, and worshipped together in their shared houses. A settlement might have its own doctor, bakery, shop, and other businesses. These businesses were called ‘diaconies’. They worked for the good of everyone, not for private profit.
The community was organized into "Choirs." For example, there was a Married Choir, a Single Sisters’ Choir, and a Little Girls’ Choir. Each choir was a group that served God in its own way.
Building the Community
Benjamin Ingham gave the land for the settlement in January 1744. The decision to build was made in May 1745. Construction of the main building, called ‘Grace Hall’, began in 1746. This building included the chapel. It was officially opened on June 2, 1748.
The building style was typical for Moravians. The chapel was not a separate building. Instead, a large hall in the middle of the main residence served as the worship space. This hall had tall windows and was known for its "lightness" and "stillness." It had no altar or pulpit. The worship leader sat behind a table. People sat in their choirs, with men and women separated.
The buildings were quite grand. This was because Zinzendorf, being from a noble family, liked a grand style. Many important visitors came to see the impressive buildings. Moravian historian Peter Zimmerling said these grand buildings showed that these "towns of the Lord" had a noble purpose. They were places for missionaries to rest and prepare for their work.
Choir Houses at Fulneck
Several houses for single men and women were built quickly at Fulneck. In 1752, two large choir houses were added. The Single Brethren's House was at one end of the terrace. The Single Sisters’ House was at the other end. These houses also had gardens.
The front door of these houses opened into a dining room. A central staircase led to a choir hall for meetings. The first and second floors had work and living rooms. The top floor was a large open dormitory. These houses were known for being clean, orderly, and peaceful.
A Widows’ House was built in 1763. A shop and an inn followed in 1771. A small tower was added to the church in 1779. By 1754, about 80 to 90 people lived in the choir houses.
James Charlesworth
James Charlesworth was in charge of the Single Brethren's Choir in 1751. He was very good at business. He helped raise money to prevent the Moravian Church from going bankrupt. The church needed money because of its growing missionary work.
Mr. Charlesworth started a cloth weaving business for the church. He traded with countries like Portugal and Russia. In 1754, he also helped Zinzendorf and Benjamin Ingham become friends again.
God's Acre
The burial ground, called God's Acre, is at the eastern end of the terrace. It is simple and elegant. Beyond a white entrance arch, the ground is divided into four squares. People were buried according to their choirs, not as families. Each grave held one person. All gravestones were small, flat, and showed only the name and dates. This showed that everyone was equal, even in death.
In 1751, the Fulneck leaders noted that their "beautiful burial ground" often made people want to join the Moravian Church before they died. Funerals involved a procession with musicians and church leaders. On Easter Sunday morning, the community would gather in God's Acre. They would walk around the graves with music to celebrate the Resurrection and remember those who had passed away. In 1753, a very large crowd came to this service. It was so big that the leaders decided to cancel the procession in 1754.
Schools at Fulneck
Boarding schools were opened at Fulneck. A boys' school started in 1753, and a girls' school in 1755. The two schools joined together in 1994. A new building for the boys' school was built in 1784. A famous student of Fulneck School was James Montgomery (1771–1854), who wrote hymns. His father became a Moravian minister.
Theological College
On October 12, 1808, a special school for training ministers, called a theological seminary, opened in the Brethren's House at Fulneck. Before this, future ministers had to go to schools in Germany.
The seminary at Fulneck closed in 1828. So, students had to go back to Germany for training. In 1858, British Moravian leaders decided that a theological college was very important. A new one opened at Fulneck in October 1860. This college also trained teachers for Moravian Schools. The college used the Single Brothers’ House. In 1875, the Fulneck Seminary moved to Fairfield Moravian Settlement in Lancashire. This move allowed the seminary to work with Owen's College, which later became the Victoria University of Manchester.
Music in the Church
Fulneck, like other Moravian churches, had bands of musicians in the 1700s. For example, trombone players would play during Easter dawn services. This tradition continues in Moravian churches in Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and the United States, but not in England.
On March 30, 1912, the first Yorkshire Moravian Choir Festival was held at Fulneck. Around the same time, the Fulneck organist, Mr. C S Nelson, retired after 47 years. His family had provided organ music for the settlement for 92 years. In recent decades, Harold Jones, who was also the Music Master at Fulneck School, served as organist for a long time. Some of his music is in the Moravian Hymn Book.
The church has a pipe organ from 1748. It was worked on in 1930. On the first Thursday of each month (or the second Thursday in January) at 11:00 AM, Dr. Simon Lindley, a Fulneck resident, gives an organ recital. Dr. Lindley also leads a special music weekend in Fulneck Church before the late August Bank Holiday.
The Church Today
Fulneck Moravian Church is still an active church. It has activities for people of all ages and interests. Family Worship is held every Sunday at 10:30 AM. A traditional Lovefeast and Communion service takes place on the first Sunday of the month at 2:30 PM (except in January and August). Morning Prayers are held every Thursday at 9:45 AM.
Fulneck Museum is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 2 PM to 4 PM. It is open between Easter and the end of October.
Buildings
Fulneck Moravian Church is a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very important historical building.
You can find more details about other listed buildings in the settlement on the Fulneck Moravian Settlement page.
See also
- Fulneck Moravian Settlement
- Grade I listed buildings in West Yorkshire
- Listed buildings in Pudsey
