The Gracehill Moravian Church settlement in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, has become the UK’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is Northern Ireland’s second World Heritage Site- the first being Giant’s Causeway listed in 1986, and the UK’s 34th feather in the cap.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Fleur Anderson, said: “Northern Ireland has a rich heritage and is home to many culturally significant sites, and I have no doubt this accolade will encourage more visitors to come and see them for themselves.”
A total of 26 new properties, including two major extensions to properties, were added to the list as part of the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee held between July 21-31 in New Delhi, India.
This brings the total number of properties inscribed on UNESCO’s list to 1,223, scattered across 168 countries.
The Movarian Church Settlements are the transnational extension of the one in Christiansfeld, Denmark, which was added to the list back in 2015. The newest additions include three other municipalities of Herrnhut in Germany, Bethlehem in the USA, along with UK’s Gracehill.
Each settlement, with its distinct architecture carefully adapted to local conditions, follows the Moravian school of thought.
The UNESCO website maintained: “Together, they represent the transnational scope and consistency of the international Moravian community as a global network.”
The charming village in Northern Ireland continues to have an active Moravian Community with its own bishop.
Culture Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: “Gracehill has been rightly cherished by the local community since its foundation in 1759 as a town built around the central values of equality and tolerance and I am glad to see it gain the recognition that it deserves.”