The bid to secure World Heritage Site status for Gracehill has entered its final phase as the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee gets underway today (Sunday 21 July) in New Delhi, India - opened by the country’s Prime Minister.
Over recent years dedicated community members, local council and the Department for Communities Historic Environment Division have worked tirelessly together in making an in-depth case for designating the picturesque village - located on the rural outskirts of Ballymena - as Northern Ireland’s first ever cultural World Heritage Site.
Entitled "Moravian Church Settlements" the County Antrim village has been included as part of a wider nomination that hopes to achieve the worthy accolade, that was submitted by the US Government.
Moravian Church Settlements is a transnational nomination involving four sites across the world working in collaboration. These include Gracehill, Herrnhut (Saxony, Germany), Bethlehem (Pennsylvania, USA ) and the already inscribed town of Christiansfeld (Denmark).
A planned Moravian Church Settlement, Gracehill was founded in 1759 and as one of the four larger settlements in the British Isles is the only one in the British Moravian Province designed on a traditional continental model grid plan with central square.
Representatives from Gracehill will be travelling to New Delhi, for the relevant World Heritage Committee sessions. Dr David Johnston of Gracehill Trust said:
"After more than twenty years of effort, it is hard to believe we have reached this point. Whatever the outcome it has been a great journey.
“We had a community vision, we built local partnership and we developed international networks. So many people played a part and worked hard. We certainly learned a lot but we also had great fun and made many friends nationally and internationally.
“Although we were one of the smallest Settlements involved in the World Heritage Partnership we were delighted to showcase Northern Ireland and the Giant Spirit that exists right across the country.
“We were fortunate and thankful to have had the enthusiastic support of the whole community, local businesses including the Galgorm group, politicians across the political spectrum, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, the Northern Ireland Department of Communities and the UK Department of Culture, Media and Sport as well as the wholehearted and unstinting backing of our wonderful international partners.”
Dr Johnston continued:
“The prize of a World Heritage Site listing would be a huge good news story for Northern Ireland as a whole, something that everyone can share in and be proud of, with the potential to promote understanding and reconciliation and bring social, economic and cultural benefits right across the region, now and in the future.
“This really is a good news story in so many ways, so thank you to everyone who has helped in whatever way over the last years. Everyones efforts are greatly appreciated and will be integral to a successful outcome."