Galgorm Collection pledges £10,000 to protect centuries of history in Gracehill Moravian archives
Pictured (L-R) Violet Best, John Costley, David Gilmore, General Manager Galgorm Resort & Spa, Jackie Neil, and Mark Kernohan, with Roberta Thompson sitting.
Monday 2 November 2026
Centuries of local history preserved in the archives of Gracehill’s Moravian Church are set to benefit from a £10,000 funding commitment from Galgorm Collection, helping protect fragile documents and make their contents more accessible to future generations.
The Ballymena-based hospitality group has pledged £2,000 annually over five years towards specialist conservation and digitisation work on records dating back to the 1740s, including documents that offer a rare insight into the lives of families who helped shape the historic village and surrounding area.
The investment comes as the archive team works to address significant preservation needs, with an assessment identifying more than £10,000 in immediate repairs, including the specialist rebinding of damaged volumes.
Protecting a remarkable historical collection
Pictured is Roberta Thompson, who is searching through one of the key diaries stored in the archives in Gracehill after a recent request from Minnesota, USA.
The Gracehill archives contain hundreds of volumes documenting the development of the Moravian community in Ireland, including ministers’ diaries, church minutes and financial records.
Beyond their religious significance, the documents provide a valuable record of everyday life, community relationships and local history, offering researchers and people tracing their ancestry a connection to generations who lived and worked in the area.
Gracehill is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Moravian Church Settlements, recognising its international cultural and architectural importance. The village lies close to Galgorm Collection’s championship golf course, giving the hospitality group a direct connection to the historic settlement.
Specialist repairs and digital preservation
Pictured is John Costley digitising some of the many archives in Gracehill.
Many of the original records require careful handling because of their age and fragile condition, with specialist conservation needed to prevent further deterioration.
Alongside physical repairs, the archive team is undertaking a digitisation programme, producing high-quality images of handwritten documents so their contents can be studied without repeatedly handling the original books.
The approach is intended to protect the historic material while improving opportunities for genealogists, historians and other researchers to explore the collection.
John Costley, who leads the digitisation work, explained why both elements are essential.
“These archives are an extraordinary resource, documenting not only the history of the Moravian Church but also the lives of generations of people connected to Gracehill and the wider community.
“Our priority is to ensure the original records are properly protected while making their contents available to those who want to explore them. Digitisation is an important part of that process, allowing us to preserve the detail of these handwritten documents and reduce unnecessary handling of fragile books.”
A commitment to local heritage
Pictured (L-R) David Gilmore General Manager Galgorm, with Roberta Thompson and Jackie Neil, who help preserve the historic Moravian Church archives in Gracehill
Colin Johnston, CEO of Galgorm Collection, said the village’s history was an important part of the area's identity and deserved to be protected.
“Gracehill is right on our doorstep, and its remarkable history is something we should all be incredibly proud of. The village is an important part of our local identity, and its archives provide a fascinating connection to the people and communities who have shaped this area over hundreds of years.
“At Galgorm Collection, we believe that being part of a community also means taking responsibility for helping to protect what makes it special. Supporting the preservation of these records is a meaningful way for us to contribute to the future of Gracehill's heritage, while ensuring its history remains accessible for generations to come.
“We're delighted to support the dedicated individuals working to safeguard this collection and hope our commitment will help ensure these important records continue to be protected, studied and appreciated.”
The five-year funding arrangement will provide a contribution towards the archive team's ongoing work, although the immediate repair requirements identified in the collection assessment already exceed the total amount pledged.
Jackie Neill welcomed the support, saying:
“Support from Galgorm Collection will make a valuable contribution to this ongoing work, helping us safeguard the collection and ensure it remains a resource for researchers and future generations.”
Opening a window into Gracehill’s past
The archive team continues to welcome enquiries from genealogists, historians and researchers in Northern Ireland and internationally, with access to original and digitised materials carefully managed to protect the collection.
For people investigating family connections to Gracehill or studying the development of the Moravian community, the records offer a historical resource extending across almost three centuries.
The funding commitment forms part of Galgorm Collection's wider community engagement activities, which include charitable fundraising, educational partnerships and local sponsorships.
With conservation needs already identified and digitisation continuing, the challenge now is to ensure the collection receives the specialist care required over the longer term. Protecting these documents will help preserve not only the history of Gracehill's Moravian Church, but also the stories of the people whose lives are recorded within its pages.
