The journey and adventure has Just Begun…A brief history of Peace Moravian Church.
Charlotte got its first Moravian church in 1920. Enthusiasm stemming from the Quincentennial, the Moravian Church’s 500th anniversary in 1957, led to North Carolina’s largest city getting its second Moravian church in 1963.
Church growth was on the mind of many Moravians, in Florida and also in North Carolina. Prospects were brightest in Charlotte, where a survey indicated that the southeast area of the city was a field open to the Moravian Church. With the enthusiastic support of Bishop Herbert Spaugh and the members of Little Church on the Lane, the Southern Province in 1960 purchased a six-acre tract fronting on Park Road. It was just outside Charlotte’s city limits.
Construction of our church began, and though slowed by bad weather, formal opening was on July 15, 1962. As with the opening of Little Church’s “parish house” in 1924, the Moravian Band from Salem provided the music. The new congregation was formally organized on November 24, 1963. We adopted the name of the street it was on: Park Road Moravian Church.
Serviceable as the church building was in the 1960’s, with wear and tear over the years, as well as changing needs of our congregation, problems arose. By the late 1990’s the constant repairs meant that the building was dictating our ministry to the community.
The decision to move was helped when a developer offered $2.5 million for the Park Road property, and offered a lot on Rea Road. It meant the church could build anew in another growing area of Charlotte.
After much soul searching and discussion, our congregation on January 17, 1999, decided to move. Anticipating the move, our congregation on October 3, 1999, adopted a new name: Peace Moravian Church.
In February 2000, the first effort was made in getting our property rezoned for multi-family use. Because of the density requested and neighborhood opposition, the rezoning failed. To say we were discouraged would be an understatement. It had taken a lot of prayer and resolving many issues to get the congregation all moving in one direction. This rezoning failure left us without a buyer and a congregation still poised for the next step.
As per Charlotte zoning laws, we had to wait two years before we were heard again for rezoning. During this two year wait, we worked tirelessly on the move and with Edifice Construction, the design for the Rea Rd. site. We held many workshops to get input for all the members on what their vision would be for Peace Moravian. Also, we began looking at new buyers that would accomplish the rezoning task. Fairhills Development came to the forefront to offer a lower density rezoning and we partnered with them to approach city council again.
The rezoning request was approved in March, 2002 so the Congregation could now move forward with a real timetable of relocation and construction. The sale of the property was closed in October 2002 after five years of starts and stops. We were fortunate that Fairhills Development was in no hurry to start construction, so we were able to hold our Christmas Eve Love feast services in the Sanctuary before we turned the building over to them.
During the previous six months, Pastor Allan Wintersteen and wife, Teddy, from Alaska, served this congregation well and kept the ministry on track. The last day we occupied the building was the first day of leading the service for the current Pastor James L. Doss. From a make shift pulpit, Pastor Doss addressed the congregation (in folding chairs) as the choir sang with our last piano (the organ had already been disassembled and taken to storage to await its new home). It was time of sweet remembrances and day full of hope for the future!
We began the next week worshipping at McAlpine Elementary School. Without any other meeting space, we began using the Barn as an office and workroom. The choir began rehearsing at Quail Hollow Presbyterian Church. We were all getting used to this temporary setup because construction never runs smoothly.
With groundbreaking ceremonies held on June 15th, 2003, we could actually see and say that we were building a new church! Weather and drainage issues kept us from getting into the facility by our target date of Easter of 2004.
Finally, on August 14-15th, 2003, Peace Moravian Church swung our doors open wide for the Glory of God!
As we become more comfortable in the new facility, there has also been a tremendous amount of growth… many more members have joined us and there are visitors at every service or event. The Peace Preschool is operating at near capacity and is a great outreach into the community. The Music Program has also flourished with additional voices and musicians. The facility itself has become an open door to outside groups.
The vision of what God would have us do, that began taking shape in 1997, is still evolving and growing. We welcome you to be a part of this journey and adventure!
