Magdala Moravian Church

Magdala Moravian Church
Religion
Affiliation	Moravian Church
Year consecrated	1855
Location
Location	Pearl City, Pearl Lagoon
Architecture
Type	Church

Magdala Moravian Church was founded in 1855. ^[1] It was established during a period when the town was known as English Bank, but was subsequently referred to by Moravian missionaries as Magdala, a biblical name they adopted for spiritual purposes. ^{[2] [3]}

The church was officially established on June 12, 1855, by Jean Paul Jürgensen, a Danish national of German birth (1818), and husband to Inger Marie Christine Roost. ^[4] Jürgensen was among the early Moravian missionaries sent to Mosquitia during the expansion of the Moravian Church's mission in Central America. His work helped lay the foundations for what would become one of the most enduring religious institutions in the region, focused on spiritual ministry, education, and intercultural engagement with both Creole and Miskito communities. ^[5]

Early Development

The church began as a modest wooden chapel, serving both the Afro-descendant Creole population and Miskito residents. ^[6] It quickly became a centre not only for worship, but also for literacy, primary education, and medical outreach. Moravian missionaries translated hymns and portions of the Bible into Miskito, contributing to the linguistic preservation and scriptural access of the local peoples. ^[7]

Throughout the latter half of the 19th century, the church expanded its influence through itinerant ministry and the construction of satellite chapels in nearby villages. ^[8] It maintained close ties to the Moravian Church of Jamaica and to European missionary societies, which provided resources and theological training.

Cultural Significance

Magdala Moravian Church on the 2015 Nicaraguan C$20

Today, the church has gained widespread recognition and local popularity after being prominently featured on the Nicaraguan 20 Córdobas banknote, issued by the Central Bank of Nicaragua as part of its 2015 currency series celebrating the cultural and architectural heritage of Mosquitia. ^[9] Its inclusion on the national currency has elevated the profile of both the Magdala Moravian Church and Pearl City, highlighting the historical and spiritual significance of the site for the broader Pearl Lagoon municipality and reaffirming its place as a cherished symbol of regional identity. ^[10]

See also

• Kingdom of Mosquitia
• Pearl Lagoon

References

1. Payne, J. D. (2009-08-04). Discovering Church Planting: An Introduction to the Whats, Whys, and Hows of Global Church Planting. InterVarsity Press. ISBN   978-0-8308-5634-3.
2. Everingham, Mark; Taylor, Edwin (2009). "Encounters of Moravian Missionaries with Miskitu Autonomy and Land Claims in Nicaragua, 1894 to 1936". Journal of Moravian History (7): 31–57. doi:10.2307/41179860. ISSN   1933-6632. JSTOR   41179860.
3. Gareis, Reinhold (1902). Geschichte der evangelischen Heidenmission: mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der deutschen (in German). C. Hirsch.
4. Offen, Karl; Rugeley, Terry, eds. (2014-06-01). The Awakening Coast: An Anthology of Moravian Writings from Mosquitia and Eastern Nicaragua, 1849-1899. UNP - Nebraska. doi:10.2307/j.ctt1d9njm3. ISBN   978-0-8032-5449-7. JSTOR   j.ctt1d9njm3.
5. "Worship centers in Pearl Lagoon, Laguna de Perlas". nicaragua-streets.openalfa.com. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
6. "Pearl Lagoon architecture". Mapa Nacional de Turismo. 2021-03-01. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
7. Periodical Accounts Relating to the Missions of the Church of the United Brethren Established Among the Heathen. Brethen's Society for the Furtherance of the Gospel. 1858.
8. Pim, Bedford (1863). The Gate of the Pacific. L. Reeve & Company.
9. "Lanzamiento de nuevos billetes 2015, Palabras del Presidente del Banco Central de Nicaragua, Ovidio Reyes R., Octubre 2015 | Banco Central de Nicaragua". www.bcn.gob.ni. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
10. "20 Córdobas, Nicaragua". es.numista.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-07-05.