God’s Acre Cemetery, Herrnhut

Documentation & Maintenance at a Cemetery of the Moravian Church

Herrnhut, located in Saxony,
Germany, is the founding settlement of
the Moravian Church, established in
1722 by a group of religious refugees
from Moravia under the protection of
Count Nikolaus Ludwig von
Zinzendorf. The settlement became
the spiritual and administrative centre of the Moravian Church, which later expanded across Europe, North America, Africa, and the Caribbean, forming a global network of Moravian communities. The town’s urban layout, with its central congregation building, communal housing, and green spaces, reflects the Moravian ideal of collective living, where architecture and town planning were used to reinforce the community’s spiritual and social values.

A defining feature of Herrnhut is God’s Acre, the Moravian cemetery established in 1731, which became the prototype for Moravian burial grounds across the world. The cemetery embodies the Moravian principle of egalitarianism, where all individuals, regardless of social status, are laid to rest with the same type of gravestone. Unlike many historic cemeteries, which feature elaborate monuments and hierarchical burial arrangements, God’s Acre maintains a strict uniformity, with each grave marked by a simple, flat stone. Today, the cemetery holds over 6,300 graves, spanning three centuries of continuous use, preserving the memory of generations of Moravian community members who shaped Herrnhut’s religious and cultural history. In 2024, Herrnhut, along with other historic Moravian Church settlements, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the title "Moravian Church Settlements" as an extension to the already inscribed transnational UNESCO World Heritage site Christiansfeld in Denmark.

Project description

Since 2023, the participants have contributed to the documentation and maintenance of this unique burial ground, characterised by its distinctive layout, uniform gravestones, and the Moravian tradition of egalitarian commemoration. The 2026 project will expand these efforts, introducing a stronger focus on archival work alongside the ongoing conservation and maintenance activities.

The documentation work will involve detailed recording of grave plate inscriptions and their conditions, improving existing archival records and supporting future conservation planning. Participants will photograph, transcribe, and assess the state of historic grave markers, working under the guidance of experienced documentation specialists. Maintenance tasks will continue to play a central role, including the cleaning of grave plates, careful removal of invasive vegetation, and minor conservation measures to prevent deterioration. These activities ensure the preservation of the cemetery’s integrity, respecting its function as an active burial ground while safeguarding its historic and cultural significance. Community engagement remains an integral element of the project, fostering a collaborative approach to heritage conservation.

REQUIREMENTS: CV, Motivation Letter and interview ACCOMMODATION: basic facilities, shared rooms with beds, warm showers and toilets.

LOCATION: Herrnhut, Saxony