Peace Abbey in Sherborn Sold; Memorials to be Preserved

The financially struggling Peace Abbey has been sold to a buyer that plans to restore the buildings and keep the memorials on site available to the public, Founder/Director Lewis M. Randa announced on his website.

"The Peace Memorials remain open to the pubic in perpetuity under legal restrictions on the Deed," Randa wrote. "We are now able to pay off the entire debt to the bank and all of our wonderful shareholders and continue with many of the Peace Abbey programs and projects from our Schoolhouse in Millis."

Robert Murchison, a Sherborn resident who owns a private investment management firm, bought the abbey’s three buildings and 2.5 acres for $1 million on Dec. 21, the Boston Globe reported.

Most of the abbey's holdings were donated to UMass Boston, where they are on display in the new "Peace Room." 

Randa founded the Peace Abbey in 1988; since then, it has offered workshops, retreats and meditation sessions, and has had famous visitors including Maya Angelou, Muhammad Ali and nuns of the Dalai Lama.

The abbey, however, became expensive to maintain.