Gracehill
| Gracehill | |
| County Antrim | |
|---|---|
,_September_2009.JPG) Moravian Church, Gracehill | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | D075019 |
| Location: | 54°51’13"N, 6°19’39"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Ballymena |
| Postcode: | BT42 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Mid & East Antrim |
Gracehill is a village in County Antrim, about two miles from Ballymena and in the townland of Ballykennedy.[1]
The village has an interesting history, having been founded in 1765 as a Moravian settlement, in which status it remained for many years.
History
,_September_2009.JPG)
In 1746, a party of Moravians came to Ballymena, and built a Moravian church there in 1759. In 1765 they founded Gracehill. The Moravians were not in this case men of Moravia but a German religious group with their origin amongst the Bohemian and Moravian Hussites; a Protestant group founded before the days of Martin Luther's Reformation. The first Moravian evangelist here was John Cennick (1718–1755), who arrived in Ballymena on 9 August 1746.[1]
The village today is rather different from the days of the Moravian of the 18th century, but the layout of the buildings and the unique Georgian style of architecture remain very much the same.[2]
The Moravian Church remains a central focal point. It faces the square and is flanked by the Manse and the Warden's House. The Brothers and Sisters Walks, on either side of the Church, meet at the burial ground or "God's Acre", which remains in use. The Moravians were renowned for high standards of education and there were day and boarding schools for both boys and girls for some time.[2]
The village was designated a Conservation area in 1975. It is the winner of many Best Kept Village Awards including the Europa Nostra Award.
Sport
- Galgorm Castle Golf Club