History of the Hope Moravian Church

In the fall of 1829, Martin Hauser from Salem, North Carolina, migrated to Indiana with his wife, Susannah, and their four small children. They were joined by a few friends and family members who were dedicated to begin a new Congregational town for Moravians in the wilderness of Indiana.  The rich farm land selling for $1.25 an acre, promised to be the perfect place to first establish farms of their own, and then to gain the financial backing of the church for this special community for members of their denomination.  The property of this town that would be called Goshen was to be owned by the church and leased to Moravians for homes and businesses.   Martin and Susannah had been prayerfully planning this endeavor for nearly 10 years before they got the blessing of the church to attempt this remarkable undertaking.  Because of their faithful dedication and hard work, the new town was founded in April of 1830.  The first building to be constructed in the town was a log cabin located on our present town square that would serve as the first Moravian church in this community.  On June 17, 1830, the first service was held there with about 30 people present as Martin Hauser brought the message for the day.  

The town began to grow as other Moravians moved to this new site.  By 1837, the congregation had outgrown the log cabin church and a new sanctuary was constructed.  In the meantime, Martin Hauser had applied for a post office for this town of Goshen.  That request was granted with the stipulation that the name of the town be changed since there was already a Goshen, Indiana.  The residents selected the new name of Hope.  As all this was happening, the Provincial Elders of the church decided it was time to open this community to settlers other than Moravians.  Property was sold to anyone who wished to purchase it.  And the idea of a congregational town in Indiana became a thing of the past.  But the influence of the Moravian Church is still quite evident in Hope, Indiana.  The Hope Moravian Church is now the only Moravian Church in Indiana. That second church building was replaced in 1875 by the sanctuary that is used  today.

Martin Hauser did not remain in Hope.  He went on to form other
Moravian congregations in Illinois, but when his wife died, he returned to his family and friends in the town he loved, Hope, Indiana.  He was able to participate in the dedication of all three Moravian Church buildings in our town.  He died in the fall of 1875.  The community of Hope is aware that it would not be the unique town it is today without the dedication of Martin Hauser and his congregation.  Our high school is named for this man, Hauser High School. 

In the past 140 years several additions have been made to that building, with the latest being the Moravian Outreach Center which houses the Morning Star Preschool, offers availability for basketball and other community events, special events and meals in the congregation and various outreaches such as our free meal served on Mondays, open to the entire community.  Our ministry continues to grow as we live out our mission to Worship Christ, Grow Disciples, and Serve All!   

The Hope Moravian Cemetery

God's Acre is Unique...
God's Acre, the historic section of the Hope Moravian Church Cemetery, has 1,070 graves. Burial is by the choir system where burials are by gender. There is a section for boys, unmarried men, married men, girls, unmarried women, married women, and paupers. This follows the early Moravian custom of burial as done in Herrnhut, Germany, the place in Saxony where Moravians found sanctuary from religious persecution on the estate of Count Nicholas Von Zinzendorf.

First Grave: William Reich, 8 months old, died July 10, 1833.

You needn't be a Moravian to be buried in God's Acre; this is a community cemetery. A plot was free to Moravians, to others, it cost $12. Gravestones are flat, a symbol of Moravian belief of equality in death. 

Several gravestones have a flat slab with a footer area suitable for flower planting. This style of gravestone, a mix between a box tomb and cradle, is unique to Hope, Indiana.

Stories the Stones Tell...
- Rev. Edwin T. Senseman, the only Moravian Minister to die in Hope during his pastorate, is buried with his infant son, Transou.

- The unusual "backward" Bible gravestones.

- A scarlet fever epidemic claimed Henry - 8, Jeremiah - 7, Jacob - 5, Thomas - 4; sons of T. and C. Reed.

- The boys died within six days in May, 1848.

- Mary (Hauser) Houser, mother of town founder Martin Hauser, earliest born of any in God's Acre (born December 26, 1761 in Stokes County, North Carolina.

- John Henry Kluge whose stone reads "First white child born in Indiana."

- Berthold Menke, gardner for the Seminary for Young Ladies, a girls' school operated by the Moravian Church from 1866-1861.

Easter Sunrise Service...
Since the 1830's, Hope Moravians gather in God's Acre, weather permitting, for the Easter Sunrise Service. This custom originated in Herrnhut, Germany, in 1732 when young men greeted dawn in a burial place, as disciples did in Matthew 28.

Just before sunrise, we gather in the church where our pastor proclaims "The Lord is Risen!" We respond "The Lord is Risen, Indeed!"

Then, the Choir sings "The Earthquake", an anthem only sung in Hope. Organist Eugene Regannas composed this anthem in 1916. Next, our pastor and the Trombone Choir leads the congregation through the Avenue of Spruce to God's Acre. Singing, we face the East to greet the new dawn.