Note: This church was purchased by the Borough of Bradley Beach last year from the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association for $1.3 million.
Now there is a controversy as to whether the property should be sold to a developer or renovated into a community center.
This week’s Coaster ran a front page piece on this topic. Blogfinger post below is from 2016.
The First United Methodist Church (1886) at the corner of Lareine and Madison Avenues in Bradley Beach. There is no sign outside. Paul Goldfinger photograph. October, 2015. © The wing shown below is visible along the right edge of the building.
This is a wing of the church on Madison Avenue. We don’t know what its function is, but now you almost know the rest of the story. Paul Goldfinger photos. 2015 ©
This is James Bradley, the founder of Asbury Park, who was also a pioneer in OG and Bradley Beach. Paul Goldfinger photo Feb 7, 2016. This is at the foot of Sunset Park, with James facing the Paramount Theatre in A. Park. ©
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor Blogfinger.net. Ocean Grove, NJ. 2015.
James Bradley, a wealthy businessman from New York, founded Asbury Park. He was an admirer of Ocean Grove and bought the first lot from the Camp Meeting in 1870. He liked the area so much that he purchased 500 acres south of Fletcher Lake along the ocean. That land became Bradley Beach.
In 1886 he dismantled an Asbury Park Dutch Reformed church and somehow brought it to Bradley Beach and created the First United Methodist Church.
As many of you Grovers know, if you bike or walk in this area, you can discover many neat things. Stephen Goldfinger came upon this landmark during a walk last week. He was following Pennsylvania Avenue into BB where it became Madison Ave. We went over to check it out and “found” this beautiful historic church.
—Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
HOT CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO. “It’s Not Exactly a Sonata—-For Renata.”
From their album Claire de Lune:
I have heard from someone in Bradley Beach who tells us that there is a current controversy about the fate of that church. One group is interested in preserving it.
He said, “We are trying to restore the church and it’s cultural history and incorporate a community center and we’re up against those who want to tear it down.”
He also told Blogfinger that there is a stained glass window in the La Reine church which depicts Stokes.
We helped him with his research into Stokes’ roll in providing solutions to sewage problems in the Grove.
This Bradley activist also had this to say, “Dr. Thanks for your response which is helpful and while I’m at it, your blog and photos of Ocean Grove history is remarkable….and I have acquired important information from the Neptune research librarian as suggested by your site. I had contacted SMU and Drew and find Neptune library a treasure trove.
I’m waiting for the appropriate tributes to Paul Goldfinger.
The church was sold by the OGCMA for about $1.3 million to Bradley Beach last year. Its future use is uncertain.
A year or so ago, they had a large sign out front that read “FREE BREAKFAST”. I guess they tried……….
The rest of the story: there is no sign because the church was officially closed last spring, if I remember from the “Greater NJ Annual Conference” meeting. So sad when a congregation can no longer maintain a historic building.
I think it’s the Methodist church on the corner of Madison and Lareine Ave. in Bradley Beach.
Kevin: Play it again, Sam I can promise you that it is not Granada, long last love, or Asbury Park. You are playing the wrong tune. —Paul
Bradley Beach
hmmm….I think that I may look at this all the time…but I do not know where it is. I guess I would not make for a very good eye witness!
Is this in Bradley Beach?
Editor’s note: Anna is correct and she wins our “name that Jersey Shore town contest”
At long last love by Cole Porter, “Is it Granada I see or just Asbury Park.”
Ocean Township
Belmar