WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A historic church is recognizing its 250th anniversary by remembering the forgotten.

The Home Moravian Church congregation’s first worship service was on Nov. 13, 1771, and its foundation played an important role in helping Winston-Salem become what it is today.

Its current congregation is celebrating that anniversary by focusing on three themes — generosity, prayer and service. That service began by honoring those who passed on long ago.

The Rev. Ginny Tobiassen, the pastor of Home Moravian Church, said part of the anniversary celebration included recognizing some of the people buried at St. Philips Second Graveyard. She said many of the people buried there were enslaved African-Americans, some by the church in its early history, and their graves were unmarked for centuries.

“The ground-penetrating radar found that there were 300 or so burials, but they’ve been able to identify at least 32 people, like by name this was the grave,” Tobiassen said.

As part of the 250th anniversary, congregants added carved gravestones for those 32 people so their names would be known again.

“The other members of the Salem graveyard committee agreed it would be an appropriate time,” Tobiassen said.

During a short service, speakers said they hope this will be a step to “right the wrongs done by their spiritual predecessors.” St. Philips Moravian Church Board of Elders vice chair Dorothy Pettus said she’s glad the church chose the milestone date to place the stones.

“I want this precious sight to be known in our community. For so many years, no one knew that this slave cemetery was up here. Including me, and I’ve been a Moravian for a very long time,” Pettus said. “It means a lot that, finally, these souls are recognized after all these years.”

Home Moravian Church will continue its anniversary celebration with a commemorative worship service at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 14.