The Church at Woodberry Grove has served the community for more than 80 years. A Welshman named Tom Morgan built a Church called St.
Johns Spiritual Mission, in 1920 for his daughter named Beema Morgan who was a medium. When it was finished, about
Christmas time 1920 or 1921 it was consecrated by the Rev. Vale Owen, the well known Spiritualist. The Morgan family
moved after Mr Morgan passed on and the Church closed for a while.
Inside the Old Church
Mrs Effie Gravett a teacher, opened the hall as
Woodberry Preparatory School in about 1925 and it was a school for children aged 4 to 11 years until her passing in 1936.
Effie Hopwood taught the younger pupils. Later in 1936 the hall was re-opened as a Spiritualist Church and has been a
Spiritualist Church ever since. As we entered a new millennium
the church was renamed St. Johns Christian Spiritualist Church, in honour of the St John's Ambulance people who
used the building extensively.
The Committee
In 1985 the land which the church stands on was sold to a new owner, resulting in a long and painful struggle to keep
the church alive. In 2008 it was agreed with the landlord that the old church would be demolished, and a new church built in one
corner of the property thus allowing the landlord to build a small office block in the other corner. This arrangement is
expected to work well, and our lovely new church re-opened 31st May 2009. Everyone who has visited since the opening has
commented on the calming and spiritual ambience to be found within her walls. Please come along and experience the joy and
warmth for yourself .
All faiths and creeds are welcome through our door.
