• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

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
    • Work Study and Internships with Us
  • Our Churches
    • The Moravian Church, Then and Now
    • Southern Province and Salem Congregation
    • Our Local Churches and Fellowships
    • Moravian Archives Sunday
  • Family History
    • Our Memoir Collection
    • Reading Room Computer Resources
    • The Genealogy Bookshelves
  • Research
    • Searching our Collections
    • The Wachovia Moravian
    • Research Studies Sampler
    • Research Policies and Application Form
    • Helpful Links
    • Moravian Studies Collaborative
  • Services
    • Free Services For All Guests
    • Reprographic Services
    • Permissions For Use
    • For Churches and Church Agencies Adding Records
  • Products
    • Book Series: Records of the Moravians in North Carolina
    • Book Series: Records of the Moravians Among the Cherokees
    • Bookstore & More: Items For Sale
    • Exhibits
      • The Languages of Flowers in Moravian Wachovia
      • The Botanizers of Salem, 1785-1835
    • Thursday Talks
  • Supporters
    • Ways to Donate and Support
    • Rev. Dr. C. Daniel Crews Friends Fund – Annual Budget
    • Technology Fund – Computers and Software
    • Book Fund – Collection Maintenance
    • Endowment Fund – Long-Term Reserves
    • Sustainers – Planned Giving
    • Collectors – Gifts in Kind
    • Volunteers – Working Alongside Us
    • Annotations, Our Supporters Newsletter
  • Find Us
    • Contact and Visit Information
    • Site Map

Good Shepherd Moravian Church

In the 1970’s and ’80’s the suburban communities around Winston-Salem were growing fast. Seeing an opportunity for growth itself, the Southern Province responded to the west with a new church called Unity in the Lewisville area. And then the Province turned to the east and the Kernersville area.

At first the Sedge Garden area between Winston-Salem and Kernersville was considered, but after several meetings there in 1986 little interest was shown. After consulting with long-established Kernersville Moravian Church, the Province was drawn to the suburban lands to the north of Kernersville on Kerner Road. There the Province saw good prospects for a new Moravian church, and in 1987 it called Lane Sapp, who was still in seminary, to be organizing pastor.

After graduating that May, Br. Sapp set to work in the community. A 4.4-acre site was purchased. The name Good Shepherd was approved, and the first service was held on October 4 at Kernersville Elementary School on West Mountain Street. Services were weekly at the school until a church could be built.

Special gifts poured in to the infant congregation — coffee cups from Olivet’s Women’s Fellowship and Kernersville’s Advent Enrichment Class, a Moravian seal from Mr. and Mrs. Ben Fishel, Jr., coffee pots from Richard Shouse and Mr. and Mrs. George Fisher, and an organ from Rural Hall.

Groundbreaking for the church was on April 17, 1988, and after the first service in the new building on November 6, it was dedicated that November 13. Meanwhile, a petition for full church status was approved, and charter Sunday was celebrated on February 12, 1989.

Good Shepherd has taken an active part in its growing neighborhood by providing space for homeowners associations to meet, sponsoring a Daisy Girl Scout troop, and holding Vacation Bible School.

Being surrounded by new and growing communities, Good Shepherd has drawn a number of people who were not affiliated with a church, and it has offered “a fresh place for these families to plant their roots and grow along with other members.”

And true to Moravian tradition, founding pastor Lane Sapp said, “We plan on making tradition as we grow.”*

* In 2018 this congregation is now closed.

Primary Sidebar

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

Follow us on Facebook

Shop our Bookstore

Copyright © 2023 · Executive Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in