Murray Grove: Its Past and Future

Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center is Lacey Township's best kept secret, Executive Director Louise Ille said.

The actual retreat center goes back to 1885 but the story began in 1770 when John Murray gave the first Universalist sermon in the country, said Michael Masters, assistant director of Murray Grove.

The story began with Thomas Potter, a former resident of Lacey, which was then Good Luck, NJ. Potter was a Universalist and would allow those who came through the area to use his parlor for Sunday services, Masters said.

In 1760, Potter built a church (the church there now is not the original. The Potter Memorial Church, also known as the Red Brick Church, burnt down in 1973).

“He built it specifically for the use of a Universalist ministry. The problem was, there was no Universalist minister, never had been, and there was no realistic prospect of there ever being one,” Masters said.

Murray, originally from England, arrived in Good Luck in 1740 after encountering personal misfortune, Masters said. He was on the vessel, Hand in Hand, heading to NY.

The vessel was coasting off the Barrier Island and there was a heavy fog and strong winds that propelled them over the break in the Barrier Island to Cranberry Inlet, which is now the location of Point Pleasant Beach, Masters said.

The vessel was structurally in tack but pinned in shallow sand. The captain rented a sloop for the cargo and sailors. When they eventually were heading back to the vessel, the wind continued to blow them back towards Cranberry Inlet and the Captain left them behind, Masters said.

Murray heard of Potter at a tavern the sailors stopped at. He headed towards his home where Potter invited him to stay. Masters said, Potter had seen the boat trapped and a voice came to him saying, “In that vessel is the Universalist preacher you have been waiting for.”

Although Murray was a Universalist preacher in England, he had wanted to leave his past behind, Masters said.

Potter, believing the wind would not stop and the boat would be trapped until Murray gives a sermon on the Universalist gospel of universal love, made a deal with Murray. If the wind had not stopped by next week, Murray would stay; otherwise he could continue his voyage.

The wind did not let down and Murray gave the sermon on September 30, 1770. This is believed to be the only Universalist miracle, Masters said.

There is a gap in the story of about 50 years when the property was found in the hands of Methodists. Universalists bought back the land piece by piece, raising a stone over Potter’s grave in 1883. The Potter Memorial Church was dedicated in 1885 and the Murray Grove Association was developed in 1886.

But since then, Murray Grove has had to sell its property piece-by-piece, just to keep afloat.

In 1991, all but one member of the Board of Directors voted to shut down the retreat center. In 1995, 200 acres were sold to the U.S. Interior Department as part of the Edwin B. Forsythe Wildlife Preserve.

“That money has been invested as our endowment to keep Murray Grove going,” Masters said.

With 20 acres remaining Murray Grove’s, it’s history still applies today.

“It applies in two ways. One is that Unitarian-Universalists come to hear about the history and to be at one of the historical sites of their denomination. Other groups when they come aren’t necessarily interested in that but the tradition of radical hospitality and dedication to Universalism, which comes down to universal love. We try to infuse that into everything we do,” Masters said.

A variety of groups continue to utilize the retreat center and according to Masters, half the groups are Unitarian - Universalist’s. Their most regular group is the Zen Meditation Group from Rutgers University that comes five times a year for a week at a time.

But although overnight retreats remain their priority, Murray Grove has been redirecting their marketing, Ille said.

“Short term, my goals are reaching out to the community and getting the community aware of what Murray Grove is about and try to work with the community to see how we can give back to the community,” Ille said “I just think it makes a whole lot of sense to work together and see how we can help the community and then I in turn see how the community can help us.”

Traditionally the marketing has been to Unitarian-Universalist groups, congregations of all religions, and liberal organizations including the American Ethical Union and Zen Buddhists, Ille said.

“We’re here to support Unitarian-Universalists, preserve the sacred ground, and reach out to the community; particularly maybe to groups that aren’t usually welcomed by other folks,” Ille said. “Any groups that are ostracized by other organizations and communities, we want to make sure we’re radically welcoming. That’s what Universalism is all about. “

They have been reaching out to the public and private school systems as well as nature groups, weekend weddings, and the family reunion market.

“I am trying to reach out to groups that would really truly appreciate Murray Grove’s simplicity because we’re intentionally simple and that’s what we’re all about,” Ille said.

Currently, Murray Grove is catching up on a variety of maintenance projects but they also have a fundraiser to renovate the pool converting it from chlorine to salt water. The pool will open this summer.

Ille has also opened the retreat center to monthly coffeehouses and an annual “Drum and Dance” during the summer. Both community events have become their most popular, Ille said.

Murray Grove will also be a new polling site in town beginning in June.

Down the road, Ille has big dreams, she said. She would like to build a Peace Pavilion and a meeting room, stating that the retreat center needs a larger place where people can gather for spiritual services.

Last year, the occupancy rate at Murray Grove was around 38 percent, 72 percent for the weekends. Murray Grove's occupancy rate needs to increase to generate income and enhance the facility, Ille said.

Half their income comes from the interest of selling the 200 acres to wildlife preserve and the other half is from retreat income, Ille said. They also rely on donations, grants, and fundraisers. Last year, the Board of Directors raised $25,000.

“We’re here. We’re committed to being here. We’re not selling. We’re excited about the potential,” Ille said.

Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center is a private, non-profit organization. The center is adjoined by 200 acres of wildlife preserve and nature trails that lead through the woods to the wetlands on Barnegat Bay. They have a lodge with a fireside room, kitchen, and center office; a Cone House for extra meeting space; two guesthouses; a pool; a labyrinth; screen house; a large athletic field; and a playground.

For more information on Murray Grove and the events, click here.