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Christianfeld on Jutland and the Moravian ChurchAug 25 '01 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line The Moravian Brethren at Christianfeld on Jutland survived Roman Catholic systematic murder to become the first to bring education to West Indian slaves. Their history is well worth a visit. Back in the days of Martin Luther, around 1400, a group gathered together in Germany and called themselves Unitas Fratrum (brothers who, out of love, have united themselves with the church). After several mass murders sanctioned by the Roman Catholic Church, a few of the surviving Brothers and Sisters found refuge in the northern German Duchy of Sachsen in 1722 under the protection of the Count Zinzendorf. The good Count was taken with the Moravian ways and joined the Brotherhood. The town of Hurrnhut was founded and a reborn Moravian Brethren established in 1727. Count Zinzendorf supported Moravian missions to the Danish West Indies (1732), Greenland (1733), and India. The good Count was related to King Christian IV and Queen Sophie of the Danish Court and convinced them to accept a mission of Moravians. The mission purchased a sizeable plot of land in Jutland and founded the village of Christianfeld in 1772. As a religious community under the wing of the King, Christianfeld was forgiven taxation and the Moravians were quick to make maximum use of their money building an extensive community. The Moravian Church in Christianfeld is a masterpiece of understatement. It is a simple rectangular solid with the largest chapel without supporting columns in Denmark. The floors are lightly sanded raw wood planks and the room is painted stark white without alter, font or pictures. The only ornamentation, if you can call it that, is numerous candelabra suspended from the ceiling and attached to the wall. Sitting in the middle of the church I was struck with two predominant thoughts: I admired the Moravians for putting aside pomp and splendour with a total commitment to their God and his teachings, and I really wanted to join them in worship in the evening under the flickering light of hundreds of candles. Other church erected buildings include the vicarage, the choir houses including the Sister House where unmarried females lived and studied, the Widow House, the Pharmacy with its planed garden of 69 different medicinal plants, and the Hotel. In the church, brothers sat on the left of central while sisters sat on the right hand side. In the Churchyard/ Gudsageren/ "God's Field"/ Cemetery, males are buried on the left of the central lane while females are buried on the right. All headstones are of a standard size with identical lettering to emphasize equality after death. Another feature is the totally bare dirt throughout the sections of the burial yards. One of the most important stops on our tour was the bakery where we purchased honey cakes. This delicacy has been a Christianfeld speciality since 1783. The Moravians should be of particular interest to anyone of West Indian/ African heritage. It was the Moravians who convinced the Danish King African slaves could and should be taught to read. Their mission to the West Indies began the task of education African slaves in the mid 1700s. Christianfeld is on the secondary road 170 running from Kolding to Haderslev on the east side of Jutland. It is east of exit 66 on the E45. It is also on the Marguerite Route, which is a special tourist route for motorists. Further information may be obtained from the Christiansfeld Turistbureau www.christiansfeld.com and chrfeld@post5.tele.dk  |
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