Portsmouth Temple
of Spiritualism

Portsmouth came into prominence in psychical matters, through the experiments of Major General Drayson and Arch Deacon Colley, who conducted a number of psychical experiments in physical phenomena and apports, with the mediumship of Mrs Maggs.

Dr Arthur Conan Doyle, then a practising doctor in Elm Grove, became interested in the subject, thus the foundation stones of the work that he did for spiritualism were laid.

 A physical society was started; its president was Rev Cozens, a prior minister of the Unitarian church, High Street. Mr and Mrs Tebby and family, Mr and Mrs Yelf and family and others were interested and the society held regular week-night meetings for the discussion of psychic matters. The membership grew came to nearly 100, but as quickly dwindled. They had no mediums; most of the meetings were occupied in discussing phenomena which they had only read about. The society had no stimulus behind it, being rigidly scientific in its outlook and in the spring of 1900 died. Following that, an attempt was made to start a Spiritualist Society. The Tebby and Yelf families were some of the original members involved. The society held their meetings in a small room owned by the Cooperative Society in Garnier Street on Sundays and paid 2s.6d a week for the rent of the room. The young society had to draw all its mediums from London and as the attendance was seldom twenty, there was a struggle. Miss Ethel Tebby was the only medium the Society possessed. Mr and Mrs Tebby and Mrs Bryant did most of the entertaining. It was no unusual thing on a Sunday evening to invite the sceptic or critic to a seance at the house of a member, where evidence was obtained through table tilting and Miss Tebbys mediumship. Many new members were thus made.

In November 1900 Mr Oaten, who later became a life time member of the Portsmouth church, came to Portsmouth to live, dropped into a little room at the cooperative society and was welcomed with opened arms.

In the spring of 1901 a meeting was held and reformed the society calling it the Portsmouth Spiritualist Society with about twenty members.They now made a push for better speakers and mediums.The society soon needed a larger hall and took the lesser Albert hall, subsequently gravitating to the larger Albert hall, with a capacity of some 750.The expense was found to be too great and so they moved to the lesser Victoria hall, where excellent work was done.As the hall was only used on Sundays, development circles were started in member’s homes, under the supervision of the church.There were over a dozen of these and Mr Oaten attended every circle once a month to mark progress and to give advice.Next the societies moved to Bradford Road, Alexandra hall, where there were opportunities of an occasional week night in addition to the Sunday services.When Mr Cole came as a resident speaker, Mr Oaten became the president with Mrs Tebby and Yelf as Vice Presidents and Mr William Taylor as treasurer.Large propaganda meetings were occasionally held in ST James hall and a large Victoria hall.The growing society then took a large room for week nights at Waterloo Street, where they could generally get an audience of 150. Mr E.Tebby President:

Annual general meeting, formation of choir proposed.

It was here that mediumship took a leap upwards and the Rev George Cole was engaged as the resident speaker.At the annual general meeting the title of The Portsmouth temple of spiritualism was adopted.

Mr Cole left and stepped down as resident speaker, to be replaced by Mr Oaten. Mr Oaten elected president and a building fund is started.

Mr Oaten leaves.The society had 120 paying members and some £150 in the bank.Shortly after this, the old school of art at Victoria road south came onto the market.no.73a, Victoria road south stood as a two story building, the lower floor embracing one large room and many small rooms, the first floor was named as the tuition centre.Typical of the day it was all varnished wood, with dark and dismal rooms.The property was secured for the then substantial sum of £1,100, though the price asked was £1,500. With the help of Mrs Mary Davies and Mr McFarlane the building stood and was used for thirty years before being completely demolished.The minuets of meetings for the following years show the hard work of a few devoted and dedicated people, who attached the church to the spiritualist national union parent body, and democratically did their bit, to build a Portsmouth federation.Chairs for the Temple were purchased from Spickernells of Lake Road Portsmouth,traditional Portsmouth furnishers, and duly delivered by A.W.White and co.

 Arch Deacon Colley agrees to speak upon the platform when in Portsmouth. (Feb) new rubber stamp purchased to stamp hymn books, because hymn books were going missing.

 (Jan) First committee meeting held in the newly purchased Temple (26^TH March). First Good Friday tea took place.

Mr A. E. Fielder president: 1911-1913.

 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle proclaims his belief in spiritualism.

Miss A.M.March president: 1923-1924.

(Sept 24th) The Portsmouth Temple suffered a great loss when Miss Annie .M.March passed to the higher life. Annie was associated with the Temple since 1916. First she was vice president then later president. Miss March left a large sum of money that she wished to be added to the building fund, this totalled £1OO. She had also been working very hard to raise funds for the building fund. Miss March sadly passed to the higher life one week before a bazaar was to be held, to help raise funds to the building fund. The friends and associates were spurred on by all the efforts of Miss March and the bazaar raised another £160 towards the fund. (Sept 28^TH) memorial service for Miss March was held at the temple. Miss A.M.March president: 1924.

Mr A. E. Fielder president:

(Oct 22^ND) Sir Arthur Conan Doyle spoke at the old school house.

Mr A.F.Allan President

Old school house demolished, in preparation for a new temple building. 

Work on building the Temple begins.

(23/3/1940) Despite the odds of war and the continued bombings, the dedication and hard work of those whom believed and trusted in spirit undertook and strove onwards with the securing of the purchase of the Temple.The completion of building had been delayed by the difficulties of obtaining materials needed to complete the building work under the then present conditions of World War Two, but the architect, builders and contractors completed the building overcoming all obstacles and difficulties.The Portsmouth Temple officially opened, Good Friday.The overall cost for the purchase of the temple was £3600.Mr Rollason President, offered a hearty welcome, and spoke of faith in the spirit world which had prompted them to proceed with the new building.Mr Frank T.Blake of Bournemouth opened the doors to the Temple with a silver key, and thus dedicated the new temple to god and humanity, in the name of the father, in the name of the unseen ones and in the name of the members of the church. Mr Frank Blake president of the SNU took the dedication service. Keeping the layout as before, there was a conference hall,stage, kitchen and eight bedded healing sanctuary downstairs and the main church and vestry were upstairs.

A library was later added.Also owned next door were two large houses, rented for years to the Temple members and officers at peppercorn charges.These houses became such a financial responsibility, that selling was enforced in the 1970s. Piano was presented to the temple by Mr William Tuck Esq., to the memory of his loving wife and daughter. Mr Rollason President: 1940. Also on Good Friday Sir Oliver Lodge sent a message of congratulations and a personal blessing.

(2 June) Mr Ronald & Georgina Brake were the first persons to be married in the newly built Temple.

Three people contirbuted greatly towards the smooth running of the Temple, Mr Hector Bedford, Mrs Laura Winchester and Mrs Everlyn Tiddle who were also very involved with the Wednesday Guild Fellowship meetings. The Highlight of the year was the annaul trip to the Albert Hall on Armistice Sunday. The spiritualists always organized a big demonstration with people such as the likes of Gordon Higginson, Ivy Northage, Doris Collins and Maurice Barbanell.

Mr Len Slark President.

Mr G Bailey President.

Three week celebrations begin in celebrating the Temples 80th Anniversary. At the Anniversary tea, one hundred attended, Mrs Falls entertained all with songs, and twice as many attended the evening meeting of clairvoyance. The demonstrator this evening was Mr Robin Stevens (MSNU) and Mr G Allister.

Mr Maurice Auton President:1983-1987.

New roof is needed for the Temple. New roof finished.Lorna Woods joins the Portsmouth Temple.

Seven day festival. Medium Coral Polge attends the Temple and a sign saying full house had to be hung on the Temple doors. Again a sign saying full house had to be displayed for the 86th anniversary tea service held by Ursula Roberts. Ursula Roberts was awarded honorary membership, presented to Ursula by Diana Collinson-Kitchen (acting president) remembering Ursula Roberts service to the church for over forty years. Mrs Diana Collinson-Kitchen president 1987-1988.

October (LSSNU) Elizabeth Norridge celebrates her 25 years of service.

March 25th 100 years centennial award, rededication, Service to the community. President Duncan P. Gascoyne lead the days celebration. Lesley Bedford-Ford President:( March) 2005-2006.

(Jan 10th) Mrs Kathleen Luckhurst medium and long standing custodian of the PortsmouthTemple, made her transition to the higher life. Kathleen joined the Temple in 1972, and filled the Presidents roll on many occasions and many different positions in her years of service to the Temple. A memorial service was held at the Temple on March 11th, friends and family attended in number,many fine tributes to all that Kathleen meant were read.

(Mar 18th) AGM held and Mr Brian Elliot elected President 2006-2007. Dame Diana Hope-Combes CSNU passes to the higher life, a memorial service was held at the Portsmouth Temple on Saturday 29th April.

(Mar 17th) AGM held and Miss Lesley Bedford-Ford duly elected President 2007-2008. (April 7th) Anniversary service taken by Lorna Woods MSNU followed by anniversary tea.

(Nov) The lower Temple hall refurbishment was finished.

(Mar 15th) AGM held and Jo Doughty duly elected President 2008-2009. (June 28th) The Portsmouth Temple held an Open day.

(Mar 14th) AGM held and Jo Doughty duly elected President 2009-2010 (May 28th).