History of Gracefield

Gracefield

1767-1900

In 1767 over 100 acres of land, in Ballymaguigan, were up for sale and were bought, on a perpetual lease, by the Ancient Protestant Episcopal Moravian Church.   The Moravians had first come to Lisnamorrow in 1748 and when the Moravian Bishop visited there, in June 1750, he decided it should become the centre of the evangelistic efforts carried on by the Brethen in Londonderry and Tyrone. A Society, consisting of 104 persons living there and in the district, was formally organised by Rev. John Cennick in December of that year.   A church was built in 1751 and the Society at Lisnamorrow was formed into a regular congregation in 1759.  The Rev. Joseph Brown, who had laid the first stone of the church, was appointed its Minister.  The eighteen year lease on the Lisnamorrow site was due to expire in 1769 and, as there were no prospects of acquiring land on a long lease in the immediate area, the proximity of the land in Ballmaguigan was ideal.  Plans were made to form a Moravian settlement to be called Gracefield.

During the next two years a church, manse and choir house were completed.  Lisnamorrow remained the headquarters until Gracefield Church was finished and consecrated on 13 September 1769.  Gracefield became the centre of Church life and Lisnamorrow was retained as a preaching place.  When the graveyard was laid out and consecrated, the coffins of ten people interred in Lisnamorrow between 1765 and 1770 were moved to Gracefield.

About 1776 the building on the right of the church, which was previously a house for single Brothers, probably became a school for boys.  In 1806, a boarding school for girls was started.  The main occupations and source of income were farming, weaving and lace making and boys had to learn a trade.  By 1833 the village had 32 houses.  In 1888 there were, including children, 176 members connected to the church.

 

1900-2012

By 1919 the Moravian congregation had become too small for a Minister to be stationed at Gracefield.  Magherafelt Presbytery was approached with a view to making some joint arrangement for carrying on the work.  The Church of Ireland was also drawn in and a Joint Committee was now regarded by the Moravian Board as a Union Church, managing its own affairs.  Until August 1930 services were taken by Presbyterian Ministers.  For the next two years they were taken by the Magherafelt Methodist Church Minister.  A quarterly Communion Service was taken by the Gracefield Minister, who had also the pastoral care of the remnant flock.

In 1932 Rev. E. Brownell, Rector of Woodschapel, was appointed Officiating Minister by a new Joint Committee.  The Provincial Board of the Moravian Church proposed to discontinue Gracefield as an out-preaching place in 1934 and to lease the entire property, on full repairing covenant, to the Church of Ireland for a period of ten years.  The Select Vestry of Woodschapel agreed to rent it at £8 per year.  In 1937 the Church was licensed for marriages.  On the expiry of the lease the Diocesan Trustees were given the options of renewing it or or purchasing the property for £500.  Under the guidance of Rev. T.D.D. Mayes, rector since 1939, the Select Vestry decided to buy it.  The sale and transfer was negotiated by the Dioscesan Council and receipt for the payment was issued to Rev. F.W. Gowing by the R.C.B. dated 12 July 1947.

Cleaning, graining and varnishing of seats, pulpit and doors that were carried out in 1979 cost £280.  New carpet laid in church and vestry.

Mrs. R. Scott retired as church organist in 1982.

In 1989 saw the replacement of new windows in Gracefield.