A Page In History..

The Old Good Luck Church, also known as the "Potter Chapel"

The "Potter Chapel" Murray Grove exists because of the Universalist sermon John Murray was persuaded by Thomas Potter to give on September 30, 1770, in the meeting house Potter had erected for that express purpose ten years earlier. Potter knew nothing of Murray before the latter came wandering ashore in 1770 from a stranded vessel. But he had the fullest faith that a Universalist preacher would in time appear. Potter built the simple, Quaker-style structure by himself, refusing the help of his neighbors. Once he was finished, with no sign of a Universalist preacher, and no prospect of one, Potter (as quoted in Murray's autobiography) "received an application from the Baptists; and I told them, if they could make it appear that God Almighty was a Baptist, the building should be theirs at once. The Quakers and Presbyterians received similar answers,” although all were allowed to continue using it. Potter continued holding out for his Universalist, whom Providence duly delivered to him. Following the occasion of Murray's epochal sermon, in fulfillment of Potter's faith, the meeting house presumably continued to be used by all the local community, though he never gave it over to the use of one group alone. Again quoting from the Life of John Murray, Potter stated: "As I firmly believe that all mankind are equally dear to Almighty God, they shall all be equally welcome to preach in the house which I have built.” After Potter's death around 1782, the meeting house was left in his will to John Murray. However, Murray never took possession of it, and it was sold at tax auction, and ended up in the hands of the local Methodists in 1807.

What's in a name?

By the 1830's, the old meeting house had fallen into disrepair, and the present building was built by the Methodists in 1841-42, about ten yards from the location of the original Potter Meeting House. The new structure reportedly incorporated some of the original timbers. It was used regularly for Sunday services and other events by the community until 1906, when new churches were built in several nearby locations to replace it.

There is some confusion as to the real name of the building. The chapel is and has always been officially the Good Luck Methodist Episcopal Church, or Old Good Luck Church. (This area was known as Good Luck, New Jersey, at the time of its construction.) It was never the Potter Church or Chapel. The "Red Brick Church" on the grounds of Murray Grove, however, which was completed in 1885 and burned to the ground in 1973, was officially the Potter Memorial Church. Until very recently, only the folks at Murray Grove have referred to the Good Luck Church as the old Potter Church or old Potter Meeting House, which they have done at least since the 1890s.

The Spice of Controversy

During the late 19th century considerable ill feeling arose between the groups using and representing the Red Brick Church and the Good Luck Church. Writing in a Murray Grove pamphlet in 1896, Rev. Edward G. Mason describes the controversy as follows: “…Some years ago a young Methodist minister induced his people to close [the Good Luck Church] to the Universalists. The fact that during the early struggles of Methodism, when its adherents were persecuted and despised both for their heresy and supposed disloyalty to the American cause, Thomas Potter fearlessly opened the doors of his church and bade the preachers of the hunted sect make free use of his house of worship, renders this act on the part of the Methodists the more reprehensible."

The cause of Mason's displeasure is made clear in the 1874 Record Book of the Good Luck Church: "For several years the Universalists have had the privilege granted them of preaching in the church yearly from the fact that John Murray who is sometimes spoken of as the Father of Universalism in this country, preached his first sermon in it [sic], 104 years ago. It has been the opinion of many that they should be refused this privilege: 1) Because they had no legal right to the church. 2) Because they preached doctrines contrary to what evangelical churches consider as truth—ours especially. 3) Their influence was detrimental to the people morally. 4) Because they had ground and wealth sufficient to erect one for themselves and not depend on the M.E. Society to furnish a place for them. 5) Because there did not seem to be any end to their coming. They calculated on it for years to come. In September of 1874 the Trustees refused them the use of the church which led them to speak of the Methodists rather disparagingly, but it has been viewed as the proper course and the probabilities are they will never get it again."

By 1914, the matter had resolved itself sufficiently for the writer of that year’s pamphlet to state: "Through the grove from the Murray Grove House may be seen both the Potter Memorial Church and the old Potter Meeting House. These are both utilized by the Association during the summer months...We are kindly accorded full and free use of the historic old church." It has been used regularly by Murray Grove since that time.

In 1920, the Good Luck Improvement Association was formed to preserve and maintain the historic building. Currently it exists as a non-denomi-national, non-profit community organization.

Deep Connections

Today, the Potter Church remains without electricity or heat - the original coal-burning stove still sits just off the center aisle and lovely kerosene chandeliers grace the space. Modifications have been made to preserve and maintain the building. Under any name, it has become very much a part of the Murray Grove experience, and has absorbed the essence of Potter and Murray. Their story has been told a thousand times within its walls and Thomas Potter's grave rests comfortably beside it. Generations have worshiped in it, and people continue to take solace in its peaceful embrace.