John Antes

ANTES, John (Johann). b. Frederick, Pennsylvania, 24 March 1740; d. Bristol, England, 17 December 1811. Born near the Moravian Church community of Bethlehem, Antes was educated at the Moravian Boys’ School in Bethlehem, where his talent in music was encouraged. During the early 1760s, he established an instrument-making atelier in Bethlehem where he crafted violins, violas, and violoncellos (he is known to have made at least seven instruments, of which two are still extant). Feeling the call of missionary work in 1764, he travelled to Herrnhut, Saxony for theological training. Following ordination as a minister in the Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum) in 1769, he was immediately assigned as...