Andy Griffith spent his childhood in Haymore Baptist Church in Mount Airy, but when he wanted to learn to play a wind instrument, he started attending Grace Moravian Church. The only way to learn how to play a wind instrument was through private lessons or at the Moravian church. Public schools did not offer band classes at that time.

Grace Moravian Church had a brass band led by Rev. Ed Mickey who was an inspiration for Andy. Andy bought a trombone through a Spiegel catalog. Andy had considered becoming a Moravian minister -- no doubt by the Rev. Ed Mickey serving as his mentor. Andy played his trombone and sang in the choir at Grace. He also traveled locally with Rev. Mickey to provide music and worship service to other churches and groups.

Andy’s plans changed when he attended UNC-Chapel Hill and became more interested in the creativity of the arts class versus the strict academic requirements of ministry.

Recently, Andy borrowed the church’s big bass horn to use as a movie prop, but the movie was not funded. Andy did donate a baritone horn to the church that he had purchased later in life. Andy’s childhood friend, Emmett Forrest, is still a member of Grace.

Visitors to Grace enjoy the Christmas services on the Sunday before Christmas and Christmas Eve. Moravians have a Love Feast, which is a musical service that consists of a simple meal of a love feast bun and coffee. A candlelight service with beeswax candles is also a tradition for the Moravians during the Love Feast.

There are only three Moravian churches in Virginia, which are about 10-15 miles past the Virginia stateline. These Moravian churches stemmed from Old Salem in Winston-Salem.

Grace Moravian hold its regular worshiop service on Sundays at 10 a.m.

God’s Acre of Grace Moravian Church

A beautiful sunrise Easter service is held at Grace Moravian Church, which was formed in 1925. The service begins on the lawn in front of the church and progresses to the graveyard or “God’s Acre” as Moravians call it where the surmise can be seen.

The graveyard is divided into a choir section, as was the Moravian community. Choir, as used in the Moravian church, means a group of people who are at the same station in life. Today, the terminology is fellowship, such as Men’s Fellowship Group. God’s Acre is divided into three choirs: men, women and children.

The simple, flat gravestones demonstrate the democracy of death, spiritually and monetarily. Moravians believe that everyone is same in the eyes of God and that all people come to God through Jesus. People are buried according to the choir system and not with biological families -- but with the entire family of God. Entering death the continuation of walking with God in this life thus the community organization was carried through the organization of God’s Acres.