The Moravian Church was founded in the eighteenth century in what is now the Czech Republic, arriving in Ireland in 1746 when the first Moravian Church was founded in Dublin. Within two years, there were societies in most Ulster counties. From these developed the congregations making up the Moravian Church in Ireland: Ballinderry, Kilwarlin, Gracehill, Gracefield, Belfast (University Road and Cliftonville Road) and Dublin.

Apart from baptism, marriage and burial registers, the Moravian Church also maintains very detailed membership records recording for each member, the date of birth, previous denomination, the date when a member died or left and the reason for leaving. Ministers’ diaries contain details of births, marriages and deaths, the names of those who joined the church and those who left, and lists of members.

The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland has copied all the records held at Gracehill Moravian Church, which comprise not only those for Gracehill but also those for other churches including the Dublin church (MIC/IF).