Jump to content

Harvey Cedars Bible Conference: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 39°41′47″N 74°08′39″W / 39.69625°N 74.14425°W / 39.69625; -74.14425
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
m replaced: fire-proof → fireproof (2), USAUS, Biblically- → Biblically; other cleanup using AWB
History: rm link to Camp Whelen as that article re-directs here
 
(16 intermediate revisions by 15 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Church-owned complex in New Jersey, United States}}
{{Infobox building
{{Infobox company
| name = Harvey Cedars Bible Conference
| name = Harvey Cedars Bible Conference
| native_name=
| former_names = [[Harvey Cedars Hotel]]
| former_name = Harvey Cedars Presbyterian Bible Conference
| logo =
| alternate_names =
| logo_size = 150px
| image =
| caption =
| type =
| map_type =
| parent =
| founded = {{Start date and age|1941|08|01}}
| altitude =
| founder = [[John W. Murray]]
| building_type =
| location = [[Harvey Cedars, New Jersey]]
| architectural_style =
| key_people = Jonathan Oldham (Executive Director)
| structural_system =
| industry = Christian retreats
| cost =
| products =
| ren_cost =
| homepage = [https://www.hcbible.org hcbible.org]
| location =
| address = 12 Cedars Ave. [[Harvey Cedars]], [[New Jersey]], [[US]] 08008
| client =
| owner =
| current_tenants =
| landlord =
| coordinates =
| start_date = 1830s
| completion_date =
| inauguration_date =
| renovation_date = 1903
| demolition_date =
| destruction_date =
| height =
| diameter =
| other_dimensions =
| floor_count =
| floor_area =
| main_contractor =
| architect =
| architecture_firm =
| structural_engineer =
| services_engineer =
| civil_engineer =
| other_designers =
| quantity_surveyor =
| awards =
| ren_architect =
| ren_firm =
| ren_str_engineer =
| ren_serv_engineer =
| ren_civ_engineer =
| ren_oth_designers =
| ren_qty_surveyor =
| ren_awards =
| references =
}}
}}


'''Harvey Cedars Bible Conference''' is a building complex of the [[Presbyterian]] denomination, in [[Harvey Cedars]], [[New Jersey]], including a [[hotel]], a [[Dock (maritime)|dock]] and [[sport]] facilities.
'''Harvey Cedars Bible Conference''' is a Christian retreat center in [[Harvey Cedars, New Jersey]], providing conferences, retreats, and other events. The Bible Conference has a long history of biblically-oriented ministries and vacations for families and people of all ages and ethnicities.


Summers feature week-long family and teen conferences. The rest of the year is filled with retreats for different organizations, including at least one retreat which brings in hundreds from other countries.
==History==
Harvey Cedars Bible Conference has occupied the former, historic [[Harvey Cedars Hotel]] since the early 1940s (although it was first called Harvey Cedars Bible Presbyterian Conference).<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://law.justia.com/cases/new-jersey/appellate-division-published/1964/84-n-j-super-441-0.html|title = Bible Presbyterian, Etc. v. Harvey Cedars Bible Conference. Inc.|date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref>


Lodging facilities include a [[Victorian era|Victorian]] hotel, a modern hotel, a motel, and other dormitory-style housing units. Other facilities include a dining hall, a [[Dock (maritime)|dock]] and gazebo, tennis courts, an indoor heated swimming pool, an indoor hot tub, a gymnasium, volleyball court, and soccer fields.
It officially opened on August 3, 1941.<ref>{{Cite book|title = McIntire: Defender of Faith and Freedom|last = Rhoads|first = Gladys Titzck and Nancy Titzck Anderson|publisher = Xulon Press|year = 2012|isbn = 9781619962323|location = |pages = 101|url = https://books.google.com.sg/books?id=KYqKcJYPlMwC&pg=PA100&lpg=PA100&dq=Harvey+Cedars+Bible+presbyterian+Conference&source=bl&ots=UId1HlmrOM&sig=y1qIMjDK82ZLWj3hjHTndx7WkoE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CEQQ6AEwB2oVChMI3cD11OCJyAIVAeCmCh1Fwwzf#v=onepage&q=Harvey%20Cedars%20Bible%20presbyterian%20Conference&f=false}}</ref>


==History==
Presbyterian minister [[John W. Murray|Jack Murray]] purchased the old hotel, which was abandoned for around 10 years, and converted it into Harvey Cedars Bible Presbyterian Conference. After around 10 years of directing the conference, Jack left the operations to Al Oldham. The name was changed to Harvey Cedars Bible Conference by 1949 while Jack Murray was still involved, and was run by Al until the mid-90's when the director position was passed on to his son, Jon Oldham.
Harvey Cedars Bible Conference (called Harvey Cedars Bible Presbyterian Conference until 1949)<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://law.justia.com/cases/new-jersey/appellate-division-published/1964/84-n-j-super-441-0.html|title = Bible Presbyterian, Etc. v. Harvey Cedars Bible Conference. Inc.}}</ref> has occupied the former, historic [[Harvey Cedars Hotel]] since August 3, 1941.<ref>{{Cite book|title = McIntire: Defender of Faith and Freedom|last = Rhoads|first = Gladys Titzck and Nancy Titzck Anderson|publisher = Xulon Press|year = 2012|isbn = 9781619962323|pages = 101|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=KYqKcJYPlMwC&q=Harvey+Cedars+Bible+presbyterian+Conference&pg=PA100}}</ref>

Originally a small one story hotel started in the 1830s for fishermen and hunters, it was expanded throughout the 19th century to a two-story. A large renovation, completed in 1903, led to the three-story structure which was kept rather similar until the late 1990s when sections of it were gutted and rebuilt, out of style with the original [[Victorian architecture]].

In 1949/1950, a separate chapel was built on the property. [[Stained glass]] windows purchased from the [[Engleside Hotel]] in [[Beach Haven, New Jersey|Beach Haven]] (built in the 1870s, and torn down during [[World War II]]) were used in the new chapel. These windows were, with the exception of two sashes, completely removed years later after years of damage from the high winds. Two of the old sashes remained in the bookstore, off the chapel, until around 2003 when they were also removed.

The HCBC complex also contains a modern hotel, a 1960s motel-style building, separate dining hall, a dock and elevated bayside deck, tennis courts, an indoor heated swimming pool, an indoor hot tub, a gymnasium, volleyball court, and soccer fields.

== Current Ministry ==
The Bible Conference has a long history of Biblically oriented ministries and vacations for families and people of all ages and ethnicities.

The summers feature week-long Family Weeks and Teen Weeks. The rest of the year is filled with weekend retreats for different organizations, including at least one retreat which brings in hundreds from other countries.

== Renovations ==
Changing times, expectations for improved accommodations and guest amenities led to decisions to renovate in the 1990s, up to the present time.

The former bar, (which during the first days of Harvey Cedars Bible Presbyterian Conference served as a lounge, and during the 1980s and 1990s served as the staff lounge, was rebuilt as office space containing 4 rooms around 1996/1997 (several years later the porch on the north end of the former bar was also altered for further office space). The decorative steel ceiling may have been removed—it was at least covered by a drop ceiling. This bar originally contained one of a set of matching decorative fireplaces completed in 1903 after the major renovation.

The matching decorative fireplace in the former South Lounge was removed around 2004 when the South Lounge was completely remodeled. The decorative, functional south porches were also removed, on the first floor to extend former South lounge into needed meeting rooms. On the 2nd and 3rd floor, the former porches were replaced mostly by a concrete block fireproof stairwell.

The former dining room (which has served as the main lounge since the 1940s) has been kept mostly original. All the exterior old windows were replaced, but the decorative embossed-steel walls and ceiling are still present. This room originally had gas light fixtures which were removed long ago. The pocket doors on the south side were covered, but are still in the walls.

Also on the first floor, the former "Woman's Lounge" during the Hotel days (which served as the "Game Room" during the early Harvey Cedar's Bible (Presbyterian) Conference days, followed by living quarters for staff in the 1990s) was gutted and converted into modern bathrooms around 2004.

On the north side of the hotel the old back stairway which extended from the first floor (former kitchen) to the attic was removed. A concrete block fireproof stairwell was added to the north and south side to adhere to New Jersey fire code.


Presbyterian minister [[John W. Murray|Jack Murray]] purchased and restored the old hotel, which was abandoned for six years, and converted it into Harvey Cedars Bible Presbyterian Conference. After ten years of directing the conference, Jack left the operations to Albert Oldham. It was run by the senior Oldham until 1995 when the director position was passed on to his son, Jon Oldham.
On the second floor, many guest rooms were gutted and renovated. Some restrooms were also gutted and renovated.


In 1949, the chapel was built on the property using [[stained glass]] windows purchased from the [[Engleside Hotel]] in [[Beach Haven, New Jersey|Beach Haven]]. These windows were completely removed around 2003 after years of damage from the high winds. Many other additions and renovations took place in the following decades.
All other historic hotels of the same size located on the island have long since been destroyed.


For more old photographs of the old hotel, see [[Harvey Cedars Hotel]] and [[Camp Whelen]] as they occupied the same building during different eras.
For more information on the building's history, see [[Harvey Cedars Hotel]] and Camp Whelen as they occupied the same hotel during different eras.


==Namesake==
==Namesake==
A significant signpost in the history of the Bible Presbyterian Church was the publication and approval of what came to be known as the '''Harvey Cedars Resolutions'''.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.pcahistory.org/documents/harveycedars.html|title = The Harvey Cedars Resolutions [The Bible Presbyterian Church, 1945]|date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> In 1945 the Eighth General Synod of the BPC convened at the denomination's conference center in Harvey Cedars, New Jersey. Thus the name applied to the resolutions. With its approval, the Bible Presbyterian Church codified much of what had already characterized the denomination, namely its stance on the twin issues of [[Doctrine of separation|personal]] and [[ecclesial separation]].<ref>{{Cite journal|url = http://wrs.edu/Materials_for_Web_Site/Journals/11-2%20Aug-2004/Cook%20-%20BPC%20Striving.pdf|title = The Bible Presbyterian Church: Striving For Purity and Adequately Serving the Lord|last = Cook|first = Albert W.|date = August 2004|journal = WRS Journal|doi = |pmid = |access-date = |page = 5}}</ref>
A significant signpost in the history of the Bible Presbyterian Church was the publication and approval of what came to be known as the '''Harvey Cedars Resolutions'''.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.pcahistory.org/documents/harveycedars.html|title = The Harvey Cedars Resolutions [The Bible Presbyterian Church, 1945]}}</ref> In 1945 the Eighth General Synod of the BPC convened at the denomination's conference center in Harvey Cedars, New Jersey. Thus the name applied to the resolutions. With its approval, the Bible Presbyterian Church codified much of what had already characterized the denomination, namely its stance on the twin issues of [[Doctrine of separation|personal]] and [[ecclesial separation]].<ref>{{Cite journal|url = http://wrs.edu/Materials_for_Web_Site/Journals/11-2%20Aug-2004/Cook%20-%20BPC%20Striving.pdf|title = The Bible Presbyterian Church: Striving For Purity and Adequately Serving the Lord|last = Cook|first = Albert W.|date = August 2004|journal = WRS Journal|page = 5}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 19:07, 19 October 2024

Harvey Cedars Bible Conference
FormerlyHarvey Cedars Presbyterian Bible Conference
IndustryChristian retreats
FoundedAugust 1, 1941; 83 years ago (1941-08-01)
FounderJohn W. Murray
HeadquartersHarvey Cedars, New Jersey
Key people
Jonathan Oldham (Executive Director)
Websitehcbible.org

Harvey Cedars Bible Conference is a Christian retreat center in Harvey Cedars, New Jersey, providing conferences, retreats, and other events. The Bible Conference has a long history of biblically-oriented ministries and vacations for families and people of all ages and ethnicities.

Summers feature week-long family and teen conferences. The rest of the year is filled with retreats for different organizations, including at least one retreat which brings in hundreds from other countries.

Lodging facilities include a Victorian hotel, a modern hotel, a motel, and other dormitory-style housing units. Other facilities include a dining hall, a dock and gazebo, tennis courts, an indoor heated swimming pool, an indoor hot tub, a gymnasium, volleyball court, and soccer fields.

History

[edit]

Harvey Cedars Bible Conference (called Harvey Cedars Bible Presbyterian Conference until 1949)[1] has occupied the former, historic Harvey Cedars Hotel since August 3, 1941.[2]

Presbyterian minister Jack Murray purchased and restored the old hotel, which was abandoned for six years, and converted it into Harvey Cedars Bible Presbyterian Conference. After ten years of directing the conference, Jack left the operations to Albert Oldham. It was run by the senior Oldham until 1995 when the director position was passed on to his son, Jon Oldham.

In 1949, the chapel was built on the property using stained glass windows purchased from the Engleside Hotel in Beach Haven. These windows were completely removed around 2003 after years of damage from the high winds. Many other additions and renovations took place in the following decades.

For more information on the building's history, see Harvey Cedars Hotel and Camp Whelen as they occupied the same hotel during different eras.

Namesake

[edit]

A significant signpost in the history of the Bible Presbyterian Church was the publication and approval of what came to be known as the Harvey Cedars Resolutions.[3] In 1945 the Eighth General Synod of the BPC convened at the denomination's conference center in Harvey Cedars, New Jersey. Thus the name applied to the resolutions. With its approval, the Bible Presbyterian Church codified much of what had already characterized the denomination, namely its stance on the twin issues of personal and ecclesial separation.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Bible Presbyterian, Etc. v. Harvey Cedars Bible Conference. Inc".
  2. ^ Rhoads, Gladys Titzck and Nancy Titzck Anderson (2012). McIntire: Defender of Faith and Freedom. Xulon Press. p. 101. ISBN 9781619962323.
  3. ^ "The Harvey Cedars Resolutions [The Bible Presbyterian Church, 1945]".
  4. ^ Cook, Albert W. (August 2004). "The Bible Presbyterian Church: Striving For Purity and Adequately Serving the Lord" (PDF). WRS Journal: 5.
[edit]

39°41′47″N 74°08′39″W / 39.69625°N 74.14425°W / 39.69625; -74.14425