BETHLEHEM, Pa. — It's a first of its kind.
Officials with Moravian Church Settlements – Bethlehem on Thursday joined three international World Heritage Site partners and dignitaries from all over the world to host the first-ever transnational inscription ceremony, right here in the Christmas City.
“We oftentimes in Moravian history bring out that we were the first in this or the first in that: Moravian University is the sixth oldest university in America, the first to educate women in the colonies, we had the first water mill, we had the first steeple — those kinds of things,” said Moravian University President Bryon Grigsby, a member of the World Heritage Council and Commission. "But this was 300 years in the making.
“And today, we witnessed, again, the first transnational World Heritage between the United States and Europe. … These are great accomplishments as we live through this new history. But it all comes down to, it’s a living history.”
Such a distinction is expected to boost Bethlehem's tourism industry. The title also certifies historic significance of the sites and provides access to the World Heritage Fund for site care and emergency repairs if needed.
The transnational World Heritage Site of three Moravian Church settlements — nominated to include Historic Moravian Bethlehem; Herrnhut, Saxony, Germany; and Gracehill, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom — this summer got its official vote of approval on the international stage across the pond in New Delhi. The three joined an already existing Moravian Church World Heritage Site in Christiansfeld, Denmark.
All four of the locations still have active Moravian Church congregations and similar town planning, with some variances based on locality.
"Each architectural ensemble bears witness to the Moravian Church’s vision of a unified, coherent urban design, inspired by the concept of an 'ideal city' developed by the Church during its formative phase in the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries," according to the World Heritage Convention of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
The Moravian sites distinguished here locally include structures along 10 acres near West Church Street, including Central Moravian Church, the 1741 Gemeinhaus, the 1744 Single Sisters’ House and God’s Acre cemetery. Also part of the bunch is the Colonial Industrial Quarter below Main Street.
A long time coming
Coincidentally, Grigsby said, the vote of approval happened on July 26, making for America’s 26th World Heritage Site — and on top of that, the Moravian star just so happens to yield 26 points.
“So someone is definitely looking out for the Moravians,” he said, drawing chuckles from the audience gathered for the ceremony at Moravian University's Foy Concert Hall.
For Historic Moravian Bethlehem, getting this far has been more than a 20-year process.
Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds — who was among other officials spearheading the World Heritage application process and more — was away with illness on Wednesday, officials said. Grigsby accepted the official inscription document on his behalf.
Friends from all over
“Each of the four settlements exist in different countries, but are all rooted in the same ethical, social and religious notion,” said Jorgen Boyler, pastor of Denmark’s Christiansfeld Moravian Church and administrator of its Unity Board.
“Each of the four settlements exist in different countries, but are all rooted in the same ethical, social and religious notion."Jorgen Boyler, pastor of Denmark’s Christiansfeld Moravian Church and administrator of its Unity Board
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, who was stateside representing Northern Ireland for the occasion, said Bethlehem is a “special place, not just for its historic architecture, but for the warmth of its people, as well.”
“This is a testament to the organization of the Moravian Church, a strong tradition of travel between the settlements and a strong, underlying philosophy of education and communal industry,” Lyons said. “ … In Northern Ireland, we are delighted that Gracehill has been picked to be included in this select group."
'Outstanding universal value'
National Park Service Acting Deputy Director Pedro Ramos said Bethlehem joins a select group in this country that is identified to have “outstanding universal value,” along the lines of other World Heritage Sites such as the Grand Canyon and Independence Hall.
“The National Park Service, at the World Heritage focal point in our country, looks forward to remaining engaged with the collaboration through the Intergovernmental Committee, which, as a matter of fact, met a little while ago this afternoon for the first time,” Ramos said. “We also anticipate that Bethlehem, becoming part of the U.S. World Heritage community, will provide new opportunities for exchanging lessons learned and best practices in World Heritage management with our 26 sites, including this one.”
Richard Verma, deputy secretary of state for management and resources, attended Lehigh University and lived in the city for four years — and any chance he gets, he makes his way back for a visit, he said.
"And this is, I think, the finest example of diplomacy in action.”Richard Verma, deputy secretary of state for management and resources
“It is exactly events like this that are based on shared culture and shared values and religion and stories of migration that bring these four countries together this way,” Verma said. “And this is, I think, the finest example of diplomacy in action.”
