Moravian Church in South Africa

Who dared to challenge the status quo in 18th-century South Africa? The Moravian Church in South Africa, right here, did just that. The Moravian Church’s story begins not in Cape Town, but in the heart of Europe. Early reformers in Bohemia and Moravia, followers of Jan Hus, ignited a movement that defied the Catholic Church. This movement, known as the Bohemian or Moravian Brethren, endured persecution and found refuge in Count Zinzendorf’s lands in Germany. There, in Herrnhut, their passion for missionary work blossomed. Their zeal led them to South Africa. In 1737, Georg Schmidt, a young man imprisoned for his Protestant faith, arrived at the Cape. He became the first missionary to the indigenous Khoi people. The Moravian Church in South Africa had planted its first seed. Schmidt found Khoi families scattered around Baviaanskloof, later renamed Genadendal, or “Valley of Grace.” He taught them Dutch and shared the Gospel, emphasizing the importance of reading the Bible. However, his act of baptizing the Khoi sparked outrage among Dutch settlers, and in 1743, Schmidt was deported. His departure did not extinguish the flame he had kindled. Nearly fifty years later, in 1792, a new group of Moravian missionaries returned to Genadendal. They discovered remnants of Schmidt’s congregation still practicing their faith, a testament to the enduring impact of the Moravian Church in South Africa. From this revitalized starting point, the church expanded its reach throughout the Cape Colony, establishing congregations among both Afrikaans and Xhosa-speaking communities. The Moravian Church in South Africa continued to grow, eventually dividing into two regions. These regions, one in the Western Cape and the other in the Eastern Cape, finally reunited in 1998. Today, the Moravian Church in South Africa remains a powerful force for unity and love, guided by its motto, “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty and in all things love.” Its legacy of social justice and spiritual guidance echoes the courageous spirit of Georg Schmidt and the enduring faith of the Khoi people who welcomed him.