middlesbroughfaiths.org.uk

Services

Sunday

6.30 pm, Divine Service

Thursday

6.00pm, Spiritual Healing

7.00 pm, Evening Service or occasional special evening

Map

The Spiritualists’ National Union

The Church is affiliated to the Spiritualists’ National Union, a union of churches that is probably the largest Spiritualist organisation in the world.

Our Church holds regular services and special events to which everyone is made welcome regardless of their own race, creed, religion or gender.

Awareness

We hold Awareness Groups to provide an opportunity for those interested in discussing and learning more about -

• themselves
• Spiritualist Philosophy
• psychic and mediumistic phenomena (Note that this is about these topics, not the development of them)
• public speaking and presentation
• the history of Modern Spiritualism

along with other topics and some practical work.

About Spiritualism

Spiritualism comprises Philosophy, Religion and Science.

The basis of the philosophy and teachings of SNU Spiritualism is contained within the Seven Principles of Spiritualism, these are -

• The Fatherhood of God
• The Brotherhood of Man
• The Communion of Spirits and the Ministry of Angels
• The continuous existence of the Human Soul
• Personal responsibility
• Compensation and retribution hereafter for all the good and evil deeds done on Earth
• Eternal progress open to every Human Soul

It is hoped that as each person considers these Principles throughout their life, they will interpret them with their current knowledge and experience, consider the import of them, and strive to improve themselves as a person.

You do not have to be a Spiritualist to do that.

Interpretation will vary from person to person, and it will change for each individual throughout their life as they gain knowledge and experience. It is a natural progression for each of us, and a natural occurrence because we are each an individual following our own pathway through life.

Our own development is something very personal to self.

All SNU Churches hold religious services. The Divine Service is primarily for the worship of God and the following of our religion through prayers and hymns, and an address on the Philosophy and Teachings of Spiritualism as based upon the Seven Principles of Spiritualism. The latter part of the service is a Demonstration of Mediumship which brings in the science element whereby the medium works to bring forward communication from people in the Spirit World to provide evidence of survival of the human soul beyond physical death, and to allow the Spirit People to express themselves to their family and friends present.

The SNU has appointed and registered Ministers and Officiants who carry out their duties in respect of official services, ministering to those in need of assistance, including home, hospital and prison visits, in the same way as you may expect from any religious organisation.

Eminent Spiritualists

There are some eminent people associated with Spiritualism -

• Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding – steered the bill for the Fraudulent Mediums Act 1951 through the House of Lords, and an author of books on Spiritualism.
• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – propogated Spiritualism and an author of books on Spiritualism. Past President of the SNU.
• Sir Oliver Lodge – investigative scientist and physicist, who recorded his many experiences with Spiritualism and various phenomena.
• Sir William Crookes – investigative scientist and physicist who recorded his many experiences with Spiritualism and various phenomena. A notable medium with whom he carried out many experiments was Florence Cook.
• Hannan Swaffer – succeeded Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as President of the SNU, author, Fleet Street journalist, held circles with trance medium Maurice Barbanell through whose famous guide Silver Birch spoke to those present.
• Maurice Barbanell – author, lecturer, Minister, past editor of Two Worlds magazine.
• W. T. Stead – one time editor of the Northern Echo who died on the Titanic when it sank. He worked in socially deprived areas in London.

The Spiritualists’ National Union is a non-profit organisation and a Registered Charity. The whole organisation is operated by volunteers with the exception of a few administrative staff. The website is located at www.snu.org.uk and contains information about the SNU, the location of over 300 Churches nationwide, various books, etc.

We hope that this will provide you with an introduction to Spiritualism, our Church, and the Spiritualists’ National Union. Please feel free to join with us in our services, and if you have any enquiries, please ask us, we are there to assist you.

Tony Penketh OSNU 01642 318484

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