Elm Grove Sanctuary Trust

The Elm Grove Story

Our book has now been released and is available from many book suppliers, for example:

Amazon Australia, Booktopia, Dymocks, Fishpond

Edwin and Laurel were two agnostics who were bowled over by a clear, inner call that took them on a mystical adventure that proved beyond any doubt that God had a plan for their lives. This took them from suburban Sydney to the remote Snowy Mountains of NSW where they founded a spiritual retreat centre. As they struggled with disbelief and self-doubt, they experienced the awe of seeing amazing miracles unfold through daring to trust completely with open hearts and deep inner listening.

Here is a Youtube link to our Book launch of the Elm Grove Story.

“This is an inspiring, fluently-told chronicle of a couple’s incredible adventures that should be required reading for everyone, whatever their beliefs, or lack of them. I recommend it whole-heartedly.”

Ian Wilson

Author & Historian

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“This is a love story, love of God, love of one another, love of the weak and vulnerable, love of the created order in all its diversity, fragility and beauty. This is a story of hope that the world need not be the broken reality most of us experience… not necessarily doomed to live as members of a self-centred, self-serving world, but we can forge a path that enables us to live differently, to journey that path less travelled. I commend The Elm Grove Story to you in both gratitude and admiration.”

Bishop George Browning PhD, DLitt

Past Guardian, Little Followers of St Francis at Elm Grove Sanctuary

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“This is an important story to tell in the midst of an increasingly materialistic society where living, active spirituality cannot be comprehended or is totally excluded from peoples’ lives. It’s harder for the spirit to break through and touch people. This story can help to open people to spiritual possibilities, point the way. The Christ is at work in peoples’ hearts even if they don’t know it.”

Jolyon Bromley

Educator & Elder, Pitt Street Uniting Church

About the Authors

Edwin was born in 1934 in Rhyl, North Wales. In 1960, as a musician he gained a posting with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and decided to travel through Europe, the Middle East and Australia on route to Canada. During his travels he fell ill and while recuperating in Australia he became enamoured and decided to stay. He combined his passion for music with becoming a successful business owner and he married and raised a family in Sydney, NSW.
Laurel, born in Sydney in 1946, suffered a challenging family life. As a social worker she knew first-hand the difficulties that many people face in their lives and so her marriage to Edwin, along with her two children Jake and Natasha,  brought immense joy and contentment to her life. Neither Laurel nor Edwin held any strong religious convictions prior to when Laurel suffered a cardiac arrest in 1980 during major surgery. With Laurel’s amazing encounter with her Creator this brought huge change to her life and that of her family. Following a deep inner call this took them from their comfortable Sydney lifestyle to initially quite primitive living conditions in the Snowy Mountains of NSW where they founded a spiritual retreat centre. Within their deeply mystical experiences, immense workloads and early challenges, they then gifted their property in founding the charity, Elm Grove Sanctuary Trust where they welcomed and assisted all who came on a donation basis. In 1991, they formed a widely ecumenical community, the Little Followers of St. Francis and as life-professed Franciscans, they lived in deep trust and ‘by Grace’ as their vision unfolded. Their charity continues its work today.

The Elm Grove Story

We live in a world which is increasingly bunkering down on identities which give security to those who are included, but which exclude, sometimes violently, those who do not. We live in a world where power and advantage are fiercely protected; where those who have, increase their wealth; and those who have not are left to fend for themselves as best they can. We live in a world in which institutionalised religion is risk adverse, protects itself, does not engage with the broad stream – and is shrinking.

The story of Elm Grove is the story of Ed, Laurel, and their community who refused to be defined by these realities.

It is the extraordinary story of daring to live the Lord’s Prayer – living on earth “as in heaven”.

It is the story of believing that as God is, so we are called to be – and live.

Elm Grove:

  • accepts no boundaries of exclusion – all were welcome there.
  • dared to believe that justice can outrun injustice.
  • through grace and love Elm Grove invested in the weak and vulnerable.
  • expected the life-giving wind of the spirit to constantly fill their sails.

Like the woman in the Elijah story – Elm Grove experienced the reality that their jar of oil would not run out or their sack of flour diminish.

It is a love story, love of God, love of one another, love of the weak and vulnerable, love of the created order in all its diversity, fragility and beauty. Elm Grove is a story of hope that the world need not be the broken reality most of us experience, but can be the redeemed community of the children of God.

Margaret and I have been recipients of the generous grace of Elm Grove on more than one occasion. For some years it was my privilege, to be its joint guardian in partnership with the godly Father Francis, Catholic Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn.  This was both a responsibility and a gift.

As you read this story do not simply read about the experience of a small group who joyfully accepted the discipline inherent in being one of the ‘Little Followers of St Francis’, but read it as sign of hope that we are not necessarily doomed to live as members of a self-centred, self-serving world, but we can forge a path that enables us to live differently, to journey that path less travelled.

I commend the Elm Grove story to you in both gratitude and admiration.

Bishop George Browning PhD, DLitt

Past Guardian, Elm Grove Community