A History of Stourbridge National Spiritualist Church

Product Information

Since being ordained an SNU Minister on 2 April 1976 – an office that requires sponsorship and special qualities as well as placing various responsibilities on those on whom it is bestowed – Eric had also been in demand to conduct weddings, naming ceremonies, funerals and other events not only at Stourbridge but in other churches, too. Eric, who by then was involved with local orthodox churches, was highly sceptical but Laura was open-minded, having met a young man who told her of his regular visits to a Spiritualist church on the outskirts of Birmingham. She met her brother’s scepticism with this retort: “Well, you challenge it, and find out whether it’s really true that people who die continue to live in another dimension.” The National Medical Director for the NHS, Professor Stephen Powis, has urged anyone who qualifies for a Covid vaccine to book before April’s dip, saying “if you are eligible, do not delay, book a jab”. In some sittings with these three, reference was made by Heather to incidents which I had long forgotten, and to verify them I had to make searching enquiries to confirm the accuracy of the details. Some were extremely personal, and though I would love to share their veracity here, I cannot, because in doing so I would be betraying a pact that Heather and I made.”

Become a Member - Stourbridge Spiritualist Church Become a Member - Stourbridge Spiritualist Church

Her passing, ironically from a viral infection following successful heart surgery, was a huge loss to Eric, even with his knowledge of survival. As well as triggering Eric’s investigation of Spiritualism, brother Bert was to play an even bigger role in that quest. A year after he recounted seeing apparitions of dead airmen, Bert Hatton was the flight engineer on a Sunderland flying boat that took off at night from Singapore and crashed into the sea. Some of the crew survived but Bert was not one of them. The Hattons were devastated, of course. From that day on, our friendship grew, developing into a bond of deep trust and affection. I often spoke to him about the need to set down his unique experiences in a book. But Eric, ever humble and self-effacing, was reluctant, believing it would be too egocentric a thing to do. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.It took me over a year to persuade him of the importance of such a book, and in the autumn of 2009 we began work. Taking Up The Challenge was published in December 2010 and so popular did it become that Eric was still signing copies at what proved to be his final JV Trust week in September 2015.

Stourbridge Spiritualist Church - Facebook

Their long and happy courtship culminated in marriage at the Stourbridge church on 27 Dec 1955, after which they produced two children, Lisa and Jonathan, and began giving energetic support not only to that church but also to other Spiritualist bodies. Being just five miles off the mainland, the Isle of Wight was heavily targeted by the Luftwaffe during World War Two, because early warning radar equipment was located there, and so, for their daughter’s safety, the Jermys decided to send her to Stourbridge, to be close to her sister-in-law. Facebook has also given many admirers among his family and friends the opportunity of expressing their love and admiration for him, and the following few comments remind us of his many qualities. It was evidence of this calibre that first persuaded Eric, in the 1940s, that not only do we all survive death but communication between this world and the next is a reality. And with that conviction came a determination to comfort whenever he could others who were grieving and to encourage them to explore the spiritual implications that came with that knowledge.Join us at Stourbridge for an evening's demonstration of mediumship with the superlative Chris Drew! Angela, who is based in Scotland, will be making her first appearance at the Union Street church on Saturday August 28 at 7.30pm.

A DEMONSTRATION OF MEDIUMSHIP WITH ROBIN CLAYTON A DEMONSTRATION OF MEDIUMSHIP WITH ROBIN CLAYTON

One can only imagine the greeting he would have received in the spirit world from those he worked with for decades in promoting the truths of Spiritualism: mediums, healers, speakers and, above all, his wife Heather (pictured with him, right), who had made the same journey eight years earlier, following her death in June 2007. Born just five days before Eric, in 1926, but many miles away on the Isle of Wight, just off England’s south coast, Heather was the daughter of Spiritualists who had founded Ventnor Spiritualist Church in 1938, the first on the island. She became very familiar with mediumship from her childhood.Cavendish Medical Practice, Summerfield Primary Care Centre, 134 Heath St, Winson Green, Birmingham, B18 7AL

Stourbridge Spiritualist Church BOOK NOW | MEDIUM MARK - Stourbridge Spiritualist Church

Eric was a true gentleman, a man of great peace, wisdom and compassion and what he didn’t know about Spiritualism wasn’t probably worth knowing,” said Mark Stone. And Dawn Brooks described him as “the most wonderful, inspiring gentleman and the embodiment of spirituality”. His commercial skills – he was a successful businessman – were also in demand within the Spiritualist movement. Eric was president of Stourbridge Spiritualist Church for almost half a century, from 1963 until he stepped down in 2011, but had held other posts at the church since 1948. At the time of his passing he was honorary president. Theirs was a remarkable, loving partnership that was never self-centred: service to others was paramount in their lives. As well as playing key roles in their local church at Stourbridge, West Midlands, and becoming trustees of Spiritualist charities, they also made time to assist individuals on a personal level. The subject was first raised by his older brother, Bert, when home on leave from the Royal Air Force. He told Eric and their sister, Laura, that whilst working on Catalina and Sunderland flying boats he and other crew members had “seen” colleagues who had been killed in aircraft accidents. They even experienced these phantom airmen walking straight through them.Saddlers Vaccination Centre (previous name TJ Hughes), 11 Bradford Mall ,The Saddlers Centre, Walsall, WS1 1YS It is impossible to express my feelings on the physical loss of my beloved companion. I know only two things: that we shall never see his like again, and that I have been more fortunate and blessed than I could ever possibly have imagined or deserved.”