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Moravian Archives, Winston-Salem, NC

since 1753, documenting
our churches, our families, our communities

  • About
    • Our Mission, Our Witness
    • Our History, Governing Commission, and Staff
    • About the Archivist
    • The Archie K. Davis Center
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  • Our Churches
    • The Moravian Church, Then and Now
    • Southern Province and Salem Congregation
    • Our Local Churches and Fellowships
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  • Family History
    • Our Memoir Collection
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    • Searching our Collections
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  • Services
    • Free Services For All Guests
    • Reprographic Services
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    • For Churches and Church Agencies Adding Records
  • Products
    • Book Series: Records of the Moravians in North Carolina
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    • Exhibits
      • The Languages of Flowers in Moravian Wachovia
      • The Botanizers of Salem, 1785-1835
    • Thursday Talks
  • Supporters
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    • Rev. Dr. C. Daniel Crews Friends Fund – Annual Budget
    • Technology Fund – Computers and Software
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  • Find Us
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Covenant Moravian Church

Following the success of First Moravian Church of Georgia, Covenant is the second church begun by the Southern Province under the fellowship plan of organizing groups in cities where Moravians live but no Moravian church exists.

In October 1974 Lewis Swaim, director of the Province’s Board of Homeland Missions, visited a number of Moravians living on the North Carolina coast around Wilmington. He ascertained there was enough interest, and the first meeting of “displaced Moravians” was held on December 8 at the home of Hilda Aldridge. They were officially organized as a fellowship on February 2, 1975.

Regular meetings were held Sunday evenings in members’ homes, and once a month a minister would drive down from Winston-Salem to hold a service. On December 23, 1975, the fellowship held its first Christmas lovefeast and candle service. Walser Allen, Jr., a member of the fellowship, led the service. Meetings were now held in St. John’s Episcopal Church. For the summer of 1977 seminary student Jon Peterson worked with the fellowship, which in August received chapel status.

Then stepping down as director of homeland missions, Lewis Swaim was installed as organizing pastor on February 12, 1978, and the congregation, which received the name Covenant, celebrates this date as its anniversary. The YWCA now served as the meeting place.

It was time for the congregation to have a home of its own. A three-acre site was purchased in the fall of 1978, and a modular fellowship hall was put in place the following year with the first service in it on November 4, 1979, and its dedication on December 9, when Covenant received full church status in the Southern Province. A modernistic sanctuary building followed in 1982 with its dedication on November 14. A Christian education building was erected in 1987.

Then in 1990 Covenant made history. Carol A. Foltz was installed as its pastor on March 11, and became the first woman to serve a Southern Province congregation as its full-time minister.

As the second congregation to be formed through the fellowship plan of church extension, it was said of Covenant in 1986 that it was the largest Moravian church east of Raleigh. It still is today.

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Support our Annual Giving – Rev. Dr. C. Daniel Crews Friends Fund

Give to our Technology Fund

Monies will purchase new computers and software allowing the Archives to better access and share its holdings. We have reached our initial goal, but will still accept donations. More info here.




Visiting Us

We are currently closed to visitors until the new Assistant Archivist is hired in the new year. Meanwhile, please feel free to email your research questions, and we will help as we are able.

Parking is in the northwest corner of the lot at the western end of SR 4326 (Rams Drive) off Salem Avenue. The same street serves as entry to the Elbertson Fine Arts Center at Salem College. When we reopen, our hours will be Monday-Friday (excepting holidays), 10:00 a.m. – noon, 1:00-4:00 p.m. by appointment only. We invite you to contact us to plan your visit.

Contact Us

Moravian Archives
457 S. Church Street
Winston-Salem, N.C. 27101

Phone: (336) 722-1742
Email: sparchives@mcsp.org

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