Blackhill SNU Church
History – Modern Spiritualism
A family who moved to a homestead in Hydesville, New York State, USA were disturbed by noises, knockings, movements of objects and other unusual phenomena.
The two children Catherine and Margaretta discovered that if they spoke out then the mysterious noises seemed to respond and it became clear that the phenomena were not just random manifestations of energy but were under the control of some invisible intelligence. In a world where such happenings were feared and where religion labelled them as evil, these happenings soon gained the attention of neighbours and family friends. The news of these happenings spread far and wide, at times many bystanders came to marvel at the unexplained knockings and noises.
On March 31, 1848, the two sisters, Margaretta and Catherine Fox, established intelligent, two way communication with a spirit person who was responsible for producing the phenomena.
A committee of investigation was formed and communicated with the spirit who had been harassing the Fox family. The committee listened out for the response signal knocks and they established that the communicator was Charles Rosna, who had been murdered and buried beneath the cellar of the homestead. An excavation of the cellar later proved that there was indeed the remains of a body buried there.
The publicity which these events aroused and the investigations carried out at the time led to mediumship being discussed openly. The Fox family suffered scorn, ridicule, and persecution but because of them advice came from spirit people as to how to encourage spirit communication. The printing press, cheaper newspapers and books, the improved literacy amongst the people, the rail road and improved postal service meant that many learned about this new spiritual phenomena and how it could be achieved. In many homes, groups of people met and, following the advice, were successful in obtaining spirit communication for themselves. And, once communication was established, the spirit people could direct the process and give specific guidance to further help the process.
It became clear that certain people were naturally mediumistic and the new forms of communication enabled strikingly accurate and detailed information to be communicated. Spiritual phenomena flowed from the many Spiritualist groups which provided, time after time, personal joyful evidence confirming the existence of a spirit world that could communicate with those still on earth. In just a few years many groups of Spiritualists formed in America to seek psychic phenomena and to consider the religious implications which lay behind the teaching received from spirit.
In time, both the phenomena and the teachings attracted the attention of eminent scientists and intellectuals in America and Britain. A Mrs Hayden brought the new knowledge to England and openly demonstrated mediumship here. She was persecuted and insulted by the press and by some in the established Christian church, however her mediumship was defended by public figures, such as Robert Owen, who embraced Spiritualism after witnessing successful spirit communications with her.
In 1853 the first Spiritualist Church was established in the Britain at Keighley in Yorkshire, and the first Spiritualist newspaper, The Yorkshire Spiritual Telegraph, was published in 1855. By the 1870s there were numerous Spiritualist societies and churches throughout the country.
Today, Spiritualism allows all people to witness, and learn for themselves, communication with the spirit world. Before, information about such practices was banned and considered dangerous and evil. However, by the events at Hydesville, ignorance and fear concerning the spirit world is passing away and all people can benefit from the love, guidance, and wisdom from those who have gone before who are now progressing in the spirit world
History of Blackhill Spiritualist Church
1920 The church first started as house meeting
Founder members
David Surtees Nicholson
Anthony Lowson
William Surtees Nicholson
Mrs Maud Askew
Miss Nugent
1921 The Temperance Hall Blackhill was hired for all day Sunday and occasional special meetings.
Healing was held 9.30am and 12noon
The Lyceum was held in the afternoon between 2pm and 4pm.
In the evening between 6pm and 8pm a Divine Services was held.
The church was known as
Blackhill Spiritual Thought Society
1923 The first Christening service was held, naming
Isabella Nicholson, who later became
Mrs Isabella Whales,
and vice president over many years of the history of the church.
1929 A deposit was placed for the North East brewery bottling store, which became the present church building.
The name of the church was change to from Blackhill Spiritual Thought Society
To
Blackhill Spiritualist Church.
1931 The first marriage service to be held was between
Mr Robert Turnbull & Miss Mary Askew
Who were later to become President and Secretary respectively.
1962 Extensive alteration was carried out on the church building.
A Rededication Service was held and conducted by
Mrs Menzies
From Edinburgh.
1966 The church was put in sole trust with the
Spiritualist National Union
Presidents of
Blackhill Spiritualist S.N.U Church
1921 – 1933 David Surtees Nicholson
1933 – 1939 Hannah Haley
1939 – 1956 William Surtees Nicholson
1956 – 1985 Robert Turnbull
1985 – 1998 Kenneth Armstrong
1998 – 1999 Carol Brown
1999 – 2001 Marguertie Davies
2001 – 2005 Marion Eddy
2005 – Present Irene Farrell
1. The fatherhood of God
2. The brotherhood of man
3. Communion of spirits and the ministry of angels
4. Personal responsibility
5. The continuous existence of the human soul
6. Compensation and retribution hereafter for all the good and evil deeds done on earth
7. Eternal progress open to every human soul
COMMITTEE 2010/2011
President: Ms Irene Farrell
Vice President: Mrs Millie White
Treasurer: Ms Doreen Oxley
Secretary: Mrs Sonia Griffiths
Committee: Mrs Audrey Hoggart
Mr Keith Redpath
Mrs Joan Nevin
Mrs Jean Dawson
Mrs Vicky Woodruff
