Gracehill

Moravian Church, Gracehill, September 2009

John Cennick plaque, Gracehill, September 2009

Gracehill is a village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It lies about 3 km from Ballymena and is in the townland of Ballykennedy (from Irish: Baile Uí Cheannada).^[1][2] It is part of the Borough of Ballymena.

History

The village was founded as a Moravian Settlement in the east of Ulster in 1765. The Moravians were a religious group of German origin who had settled here in 1746. The name of the village reflects the religious convictions of its founders. The Moravian church was founded in 1759. A plaque on the church wall commemorates John Cennick (1718–1755) the first Moravian evangelist in mid Antrim who arrived in Ballymena on 9 August 1746.^[1]

Life in the village nowadays is, of course, very different to what it was in the 18th century, but the layout of the buildings and the unique Georgian style of architecture remain very much the same.^[3] The Moravian Church remains a central focal point. It faces the square and is flanked by the Manse and the Warden's House. The Brothers and Sisters Walks, on either side of the Church, meet at the burial ground or "God's Acre", which remains in use. The Moravians were renowned for high standards of education and there were day and boarding schools for both boys and girls for some time.^[3]

The village was designated a Conservation area in 1975. It is the winner of many Best Kept Village Awards including the Europa Nostra Award.

Education

• Gracehill Primary School

Sport

• Galgorm Castle Golf Club

References

1. 1 2 "Gracehill". Culture Northern Ireland. Archived from the original on 2007-03-19. Retrieved 2007-07-18. 
2. ↑ Placenames Database of Ireland
3. 1 2 "Welcome to Gracehill Village". Gracehill Village (website). Retrieved 2007-07-18. 

See also

t͡ʃ

• List of villages in Northern Ireland
• List of towns in Northern Ireland

Places in County Antrim
List of places in County Antrim
Cities	Belfast (part) Lisburn (part)
Towns	Antrim Ballycastle Ballyclare Ballymena Ballymoney Carrickfergus Larne Newtownabbey Portrush Randalstown
Villages	Aghagallon Aghalee Ahoghill Aldergrove Armoy Aughafatten Ballinderry Upper Ballinderry Lower Ballintoy Ballybogy Ballycarry Ballyeaston Ballygally Ballylinny Ballynure Ballyrobert Ballystrudder Ballyvoy Balnamore Bendooragh Broughshane Buckna Bushmills Capecastle Cargan Carnalbanagh Carncastle Carnlough Clogh Cloghmills Cogry-Kilbride Craigarogan Crumlin Cullybackey Cushendall Cushendun Dervock Derrymore Doagh Donegore Drains Bay Dunadry Dundrod Dunloy Gawley's Gate Glenarm Glenavy Glenoe Glynn Gracehill Grange Corner Greenisland Groggan Kells-Connor Kellswater Keshbridge Killead Knocknacarry Longkesh Loughguile Lurganure Lurganville Maghaberry Magheramorne Martinstown Mill Bay Millbank Milltown Moneyglass Monkstown Moss-Side Mounthill Mullaghboy Newtown Crommelin Parkgate Portballintrae Portbraddon Portglenone Rasharkin Roughfort Stoneyford Straid Stranocum Templepatrick Toome Tullynacross Waterfoot Whitehead
Townlands	Ballycraigy Barmeen Bonnybefore Broomhedge Broomhedge Lower Carnmoney Dunamuggy Dunmurry Dunseverick Galgorm Parks Glengormley Jordanstown Kilroot Lambeg Lisnagarvy Loughlynch Monkstown Rathcoole Solar Tobergill White Abbey
Landforms	Belfast Lough Benbane Head Black Mountain Cavehill Divis Fair Head Giant's Causeway Glens of Antrim Glenariff Forest Park Islandmagee Lagan Valley Larne Lough Lough Beg Portmore Lough Rathlin Island Scawt Hill Slemish Slieve True Slieveanorra Forest Tievebulliagh Waterloo Bay
Baronies	Antrim Lower Antrim Upper Belfast Lower Belfast Upper Carrickfergus Cary Dunluce Lower Dunluce Upper Glenarm Lower Glenarm Upper Kilconway Massereene Lower Massereene Upper Toome Lower Toome Upper
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Coordinates: 54°51′N 6°20′W / 54.850°N 6.333°W / 54.850; -6.333