• 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

New Hope, Newton, Moravian Church

“On December 12, 1973,” the Board of Homeland Missions reported to the Provincial Synod of 1974, “eight people met with Lewis Swaim at the home of Wayne and Emily Garrett in Hickory, N.C., and made a unanimous commitment to organize a Fellowship. A second meeting was held January 6, [1974], with 14 people present.

“This is the first Fellowship where the initiative was taken by local people. . . .”

Such enthusiasm, though, took another nine years to bear fruit.

Formally organized as a fellowship on January 15, 1974, the Hickory group held its first Christmas lovefeast on December 1, 1974, and its second on December 14, 1975.

Then in early 1976 the members of the fellowship “reached the mutual decision to discontinue.”

“This is not considered a failure,” the Board of Homeland Missions told the Southern Province. “A built-in feature of the Fellowship Program provides for this action,” and a fellowship “can be renewed at any time in the future when the need arises again.”

Interest was indeed renewed in 1978 — more than 400 attended the Christmas lovefeast — and by 1980 Hickory was once more listed as a fellowship. Provisional church status was reach on June 2, 1981, and Scott Venable was installed as organizing pastor in January 1982. By then the Board of Homeland Missions could declare that Hickory was “one of the fastest developing groups that we have had,” and shortly the name New Hope Moravian Church was adopted. Formal organization as a church of the Southern Province came on February 13, 1983.

While New Hope worshiped in an old Lutheran church a site was purchased on Sandy Ford Road outside nearby Newton. It was not until July 30, 1989, though, before ground was broken for a church building. Dedication of New Hope’s handsome facility followed on June 3, 1990.

It’s a lovely spot, New Hope’s home, which like Willow Hill in Virginia calls forth the poet: From New Hope’s church yard can be seen the distant Appalachians, that ancient mountain chain which “stands still and sure, shrouded in the spell of its lavender-blue mist.”

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