Dwindling African Moravian Church Celebrates Rich History with Lovefeast Service

The St. Philips African Moravian Church in Winston-Salem recently hosted a community Lovefeast, where congregants and guests gathered to share coffee and sweetened buns. Pastor John Jackman of another local Moravian church described the event as a tradition rooted in the early days of the Moravian Church, emphasizing the importance of communal meals and shared worship. The Lovefeast, a service blending traditional Christian hymns with fellowship, reflects the church’s enduring commitment to community and spiritual unity.

The Moravian Church, a Protestant denomination that originated in the 15th century in what is now the Czech Republic, has a complex history in the United States. By the 18th century, Moravians had migrated to America and established the settlement of Salem, North Carolina, in 1766. At that time, the church owned slaves, believing the Bible justified slavery. However, it sought to preserve the work ethic of its members by discouraging large-scale slave ownership.

Moravian archivist Daniel Crews explained that the church’s stance on slavery was nuanced. While it held the Bible as justification for the institution, it condemned individual members from owning slaves to prevent them from becoming complacent. Instead, the church leased slaves to its white congregation, creating a unique social arrangement. These enslaved individuals were integrated into the white church, worshipped alongside white members, and were buried in the same cemetery.

The church’s approach allowed enslaved people to learn to read and speak the German language of the Moravians. This integration was unusual for the time, as it granted baptized black Christians a degree of inclusion and spiritual participation. Historian Jon Sensbach of the University of Florida noted that this setup was rare and reflected the Moravian Church’s distinctive approach to community and faith.

Despite its historical complexities, the Moravian Church continues to emphasize community and spiritual fellowship. The St. Philips African Moravian Church, part of a network of 13 Moravian churches in the area, remains a testament to the enduring legacy of the denomination. Its traditions, including the Lovefeast, highlight the church’s commitment to unity and shared worship, even as it acknowledges and reflects on its past.

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