St. Philip's Moravian Church

St. Philip's Moravian Church is a brick structure in Old Salem built with a central hall, adjoining classrooms, and a large upstairs room. The building reflects traditional Moravian design principles with its functional simplicity and purposeful interior layout.

The church was built in 1861 next to an African American cemetery and represents the oldest surviving church building constructed for African Americans in North Carolina. Its establishment marked a crucial moment in the region's religious and social landscape.

The name St. Philip's honors the apostle Philip, and the building stands in Old Salem's historic core where African American residents came for worship and fellowship. Visitors can see how the straightforward brick construction and modest interior reflect the community's values during challenging years.

The building is accessible through Old Salem Museums and Gardens and can be visited as part of the site's guided programming and tours. Plan your visit during the museum's operating hours to ensure access to the church and its interior spaces.

Before laws prohibited teaching literacy to enslaved people, white Single Sisters conducted Sunday school classes here between 1827 and 1831. This educational work stopped when state legislation made such instruction illegal for enslaved individuals.