John Gardner Murray

John Gardner Murray (August 31, 1857 – October 3, 1929) was the sixteenth presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church. He was the first person elected to the position rather than succeeding to it automatically as the oldest bishop when his predecessor died.

Early and family life Murray was born in Lonaconing, Allegany County. His parents were both born in Scotland. The public schools of Lonaconing provided his early education. He attended the Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania and Drew Theological Seminary in New Jersey.

Murray's education was interrupted by the death of his father. He worked in mining and manufacturing from 1879 to 1892 in Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Alabama. During these years, he kept active in serving his church. In 1881, he married Harriet May Sprague (1860-1884). They married in Kansas and took up residence in Alabama. Their daughter Emeline was born there. In 1884, Mrs. Murray and Emeline drowned when the steamer Belmont capsized on the Ohio River during a cyclone. Five years later, Murray married Clara Alice Hunsicker (1864-1937), of the same town in Kansas. Six children were born to this marriage.

Bishop Murray became the first elected Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, serving from January 1, 1926, until his death on October 3, 1929. He proposed "Pay, Pray, and Perform" as a possible slogan for the church. Bishop Murray was the 16th Presiding Bishop. Previous bishops had been assigned by the General Convention by geographic rotation (1st through 3rd) or by seniority as a bishop (4th through 15th).

Death and legacy He died in office in New York City in 1929, and is buried in Druid Ridge Cemetery in Pikesville, Baltimore County, Maryland.