Moravians

The following source list was originally available only on paper in one of the West Yorkshire Archive Service offices. It may have been compiled many years ago and could be out of date. It was designed to act as a signpost to records of interest on a particular historical subject, but may relate only to one West Yorkshire district, or be an incomplete list of sources available.

Gomersal Moravian Church

An open-air act of worship was held by the Moravians near Great Gomersal 1742 (soon after they had established their first centre in Yorkshire at Lower Wyke in July 1742). Moravian prayer meetings were being held in houses in Gomersal area by end of 1742. Chapel built in Gomersal Lane (now called Quarry Road) 1751. Became an independent settled congregation 1755. Congregation ran a girls' day school 1758-1766 and a girls' boarding school 1792-1902. Sunday School for girls established 1816. Sunday School for boys established 1820. New Sunday School built at corner of Quarry Road and Lower Lane 1866. New chapel built on same site as old one 1868-1870.

Heckmondwike Moravian Church

Mission work by Moravians began 1858 probably using premises in Oldfield Lane. Chapel built at corner of Artillery Street and Walkley Lane 1872-1873. Closed 1995. Building used as a stage school by 2002.

Mirfield Wellhouse Moravian Church

Benjamin Ingham, born in Ossett, married the sister of the Countess of Huntingdon, and converted to the Moravian Church in 1742. Mirfield was one of several Moravian centres in Yorkshire, set up under the supervision of the German Spangenberg at the invitation of Ingham.

Moravian worship was held in Mirfield 1742 (soon after the Moravians had established their first centre in Yorkshire at Lower Wyke in July 1742). Meeting house established 1740s, with services also held in various houses in Mirfield area, house at Wellhouse 1751 and opened it as a place of worship. Building acquired at Wellhouse 1755 for use as a chapel; it was consecrated by Johannes, son of Count Zinzendorf (the Lutheran nobleman who had protected the Moravians and provided them with land at Herrnhut in Saxony in 1722). Became an independent congregation in 1755.

New chapel built between Greenside Road and Wellhouse Lane 1800-1801. The congregation ran a boys' boarding school called Wellhouse Academy 1801-1884. A Sunday School was established in 1827. Sunday School built in Wellhouse Lane 1828. New Sunday School built on same site as old one 1890-1891. The chapel roof was found to be unsafe 1970. New chapel built on same site as old one and opened 1971. Sunday School building converted to other uses 1992. Sunday School building bought 1993 by Mirfield Evangelical Church (formed 1986).

Moravian Church still in existence 2002.

The extant records are held at WYAS Bradford (catalogue reference: WYB392) and include minutes of the congregation committee from 1826, a congregation catalogue of 1799, minutes of the “Servants’ Conference”, 1763-1769, papers on the building of the chapel and minutes of the building committee, 1799, and a series of printed volumes, including hymn books of 1754 onwards, and a 1759 liturgy.