Moravian Church

Moravian Church, Protestant church, also known as the Unitas Fratrum (Unity of Brethren), formed in 1457 by Bohemian followers of Jan Hus. They believed in simple worship and strict Christian living, with the Bible as their rule of faith. They broke with Rome in 1467. During the Thirty Years' War (1618–48), they were persecuted almost to extinction, but they revived in Silesia and in 1732 began the missionary work for which they are still known. The first American settlements were in Pennsylvania (1740) and North Carolina (1753). The Moravian church has about 50,000 members in the United States and has been very influential in shaping modern Protestantism.

See also: Hus, Jan; Protestantism.