The origin of the Moravian chuch is from what is now known as the Czech Republic, in the ancient areas of Moravia and Bohemia. As Rome began to gain more influence in these areas, John Hus (1369-1415) began to lead a reformation movement against the Roman Catholic Church. He was burned at the stake as a heretic in 1415. Contrary to the Rome's goal, his death became a rallying point for the reformation movement. The Moravian Church or Unitas Fratrum (Unity of Brethren) was born of his ashes in 1457 east of Prague at the estate of Lititz.
In less than 100 years, by 1517 the Moravian Church had over 200,000 followers and a Bible in their own language. Due to religious persecution, by 1557 there was a branch of the Church in Poland.
In 1722 many Moravians fled to Saxony, to Count Nicholas Louis von Zinzendorf's estate. He rallied the spirit of many Moravians, and by 1732 the first Moravian missionaries were being sent overseas. A few years later Moravians settled in the United States, first in Georgia 1735, then Pennsylvania and finally in North Carolina.
Today the Moravian Church has congregations in 17 US States and 2 Canadian Provinces.