Welcome to Trumpeting our Traditions

Welcome to what I hope will be a regular feature that will ‘trumpet our traditions.’ I became a Moravian just over two years ago and so thought I could use this strange time of isolation to learn more. The idea for this has grown out of my preliminary research for our Fulneck Open Heritage Day.

The theme for our 2020 Heritage Day, hopefully happening in September, is Moravian music, art and drama. Our aim, in line with the national Heritage Day guidance, is to inform and raise awareness in our local community; particularly, we wish to promote the achievements of many amazing Moravians across the globe. We will take a broad view of the topic of music, art and drama, whilst placing a focus on the rich history particularly associated with the Fulneck settlement, including our very own Fulneck Dramatic Society.

I agreed to write a short drama for Heritage Day, to be performed in the church, and that’s where it all started. As is my way, I just googled randomly about drama in the Moravian Church. I was interested to find out what happened in other parts of the Church across the world. I immediately hit upon ‘Trumpet in the Land.’ For the past 50 years, Ohio’s first and finest outdoor drama, Trumpet in the Land, has celebrated the story of Moravian mission-minded leaders who ventured into the “wilds” of Ohio in those pre-revolutionary days. This seemed like a fascinating tale and I have even been able to make contact with someone involved for many years in this drama. More of this another time as today is just about raising the curtain on the story of what I am learning.

I found the title interesting and wondered ‘why trumpet in the land?’ My faithful helper (thanks, Google) soon gave me some fascinating articles and from there I plan to explore more about the role of the trumpet in the history of the church.

Already, I have learned that the trumpet has played a long and important role in the Moravian Church, going back to Count Zinzendorf and Herrnhut. One of our members then told me (when going to Café 54 for a coffee and chat was still a regular activity in Fulneck) that in some Moravian settlements the trombone was used. This was the case at Fulneck and there is still a traditional one in the museum; once we can all get out, you can visit this and possibly enjoy tea and cakes either at the café or in the Boys’ Brigade, where delicious afternoon teas are served every Wednesday, normally from Easter throughout the summer. Watch out for further news of when these will resume.

If you enjoy dipping into a theatre programme to get a taster of things to come, then let me offer some of the pieces I may write about in the future. Possible topics will include:

  • Trumpet in the Land;
  • the Moravian star (which is currently hanging above the Fulneck Bell Tower as a sign of hope in these strange times);
  • Count Zinzendorf’s link to the trumpet;
  • Moravian principles and how they shine through the lives of Moravians;
  • Fulneck Dramatic Society

…. and hopefully other topics that you suggest. Please send me information and stories about traditions that give you pleasure and inspire you.

I will really be happy to hear from you: views and comments on what I write and stories (with photographs if possible) for future use.

Please email me at: mary@woodhall28.co.uk

Take care and see you soon.

Mary

7 April 2020