We as community members and visitors of Bradley Beach urge the Borough of Bradley Beach to take actions to preserve a remarkable building, the United Methodist Church, located on LaReine Avenue. The building has historical significance to our town. James Bradley, the founder of Bradley Beach donated the land in 1886 to the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association to build a “church in the woods.” The current church structure was built in 1900. While it is no longer a religious institution, we believe the building could be utilized as a community center, giving the town a space to host entertainment and cultural events open to the entire community. The space could also be used to display historical items from our town, recreational activities in the church gymnasium or additional office space for borough employees and volunteers. This is an opportunity for our town to retain a physical asset that has retained its beauty and remains a symbol of our town’s history. The site has many possibilities for meetings, art and theater events, recreational activities, or a place to gather and meet our neighbors.

We urge the Mayor and the Council to take steps necessary to preserve a significant piece of our Bradley Beach history while redefining the use of the building to be a cultural asset for the entire community. The church site has many possibilities for Bradley Beach and outside groups who could rent the space for meetings and events.