Murray entered the
Order of Saint Augustine and completed his studies in
Rome. He was ordained a priest on 22 December 1887. He served at
St Monica's Priory in
Hoxton,
London, England. He arrived in North Queensland in 1884 serving in the
Vicariate Apostolic of Cooktown (the precursor of the
Diocese of Cairns) for several years before being appointed Pastor and Prior in
Echuca,
Victoria. On 28 March 1898, Murray was appointed
Vicar Apostolic of Cooktown (a precursor role of
Bishop of Cairns) and his consecration took place in Bendigo Cathedral on 3 July 1898. He held the office to his death on 13 February 1914. Circa 1904, he relocated the headquarters of the vicariate from
Cooktown to
Cairns, as Cairns was becoming the more populous and more prosperous town. == Later life ==