Bromsgrove's Dedication

by Ray F. Taylor - February 1991

January 5th saw the dedication of Bromsgrove Spiritualist Church. Back in the 1960s three friends, Jo Hewitt, Rene Crane and Nan Evesom, met for regular meditation sessions. They had visited a number of Spiritualist Churches and found their evidence of survival.

One evening Nan wrote to the Psychic News to tell them that Bromsgrove was a town twenty-one miles from Birmingham and nine miles from Stourbridge. At this stage there was no intention of starting a church. However, the letter was passed on to the Spiritualists' National Union, which phoned them and put them in touch with officials of the West Midlands District Council, who gave them details on how they should start a church. As a result of this meeting an advertisement was placed in the 'Bromsgrove Messenger' asking any interested people to contact Nan. Six people contacted her and with her friends they formed a committee. This group were instructed on how to run a church and in 1965 a propaganda meeting was held at the Rural District Council Chamber with Gordon Higginson taking the meeting. Then they opened in a room above the local Co-op. Mediums were booked and that was the start of Bromsgrove Church.

As time went on the church affiliated to the SNU and the members started to save money with the aim of purchasing their own building. They started looking for a suitable building for a new church. A redundant telephone exchange came on the market, which would have been ideal for a church. The only problem was that the local district council would not give planning permission for its use as a church. Then last year a redundant chapel from an independent Christian group came on the market and was put out to tender. Bromsgrove Church offered £70,000, which was accepted. There were other groups interested in purchasing the chapel - the Church of England, Christadelphians and another Spiritualist group. It's not very often that Spiritualists can outbid the more established churches. Bromsgrove has been helped with the purchase by obtaining an advance from the SNU Trust.

As the new building had been built for use as a church it was an ideal purchase. It was found to be in good condition, so very little has had to be spent on the fabric. One of the interesting features of the church is the small pipe-organ situated at the centre of the platform, with the front pipes picked out in gold, blue and white. So Bromsgrove is now one of the small band of Spiritualist Churches in the U.K. that has a real pipe-organ, the king of instruments.

The dedication service was performed by SNU President Gordon Higginson. Also in attendance were Eric Hatton, Vice-President of the SNU, Joyce Steedman, President of West Midlands District Council of the SNU, and Dorothy Hudson, Vice-President of the West Midlands District Council.

The flowers were supplied by John Everill and the organ was played by Bill Barrett of Stafford. To quote Peggy Stock, President of Bromsgrove Church, 'The Church looked super.

Gordon performed the key ceremony, handing it over to the church to hold the building in trust for the Spiritualists of Bromsgrove.' After the dedication service was over refreshments were provided to all present.

The day concluded with an evening service, where Gordon Higginson gave one of his evidential demonstrations of mediumship. After the service more refreshments were provided and all those who attended were happy to be part of an historic day in the life of Bromsgrove Spiritualist Church.

It now falls to Bromsgrove's members and Committee to keep the flag of Spiritualism flying in this new centre. They hold the responsibility of putting over our message and keeping this building in good repair. We will look forward to hearing of their progress in their new building.

Article written in February 1991 by the editor of 'Here and There', Ray F. Taylor.
Thanks to Marguerite Butt for rediscovering and donating the Dedication Book.

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Bromsgrove Spiritualist Church
Church Road, Catshill, Bromsgrove
Worcestershire B61 0JY

Telephone: 0121 453 7693 or 0121 453 1632