Mexborough and Swinton Times, April 29th, 1932
Local Pioneers
The spiritualist church was established in Wombwell about thirty-five years ago. The pioneers were Messrs. Tom Haigh, George Whitlam, R. Bannister and Mann. In the early days they were accommodated in High Street on premises now occupied by C. Binns and Sons, confectioners, and at that time housed Turkish baths. From there they moved to an upper room in premises owned by Mr. Whitehead, adjoining the canal in Station Lane and for twenty-years they have occupied the ground floor of a small building in Melville Street. It is because of the unsuitability of the latter place for a growing community that they have decided on a new building.
The trustees of the new church are Mr. J. Markham (picture) and Mr. Chas. Henry Haywood, who are secretary and president respectively of the church.
We were informed by Mr. John Swift, caretaker and a leading member of the spiritual company, that their place of worship was packed to the doors every Sunday night. They had about one hundred scholars on the rolls and the old building was totally inadequate.
Mr. Swift gave us details of the routine of services. By way of correcting, he said, a general impression that spiritualists do not believe in the Bible, he brought a large bound volume of the Scriptures from a cup-board and said that the Bible was read and taught regularly. The children were given instruction from the Lyceum Manual, a text book of spiritual and physical development.
Physical Jerks
The Sunday School lessons were largely taken up by physical exercise – marching and callisthenics – prescribed by drawings in the manual. The marchings also were performed “according to plan”. He said that some of their older members, including himself and a 73-year-old member of the brotherhood, went through the whole of the evolutions with the children and certainly felt better for it. Asked if he did not think the children obtained all the recreation they needed in the schoolyard and in the course of their outdoor games Mr. Markham replied “We contend that physical mental, material and spiritual development should go together.” The hymns are sung from the Spiritualist National Union Hymn book but the children use small manuals called “The British Spiritualist Propaganda Hymn Book.”
Healing Circles
Mr. Markham explained that during the week they held developing circles and public healing circles. To the last-mentioned sick people came for massage and magnetism – personal magnetism.
He said they had had some remarkably good results. The routine of the ordinary services was a lecture, followed by clairvoyance giving proof of the continuity of life. There were no physical manifestations at Wombwell, this being left to people with special gifts. “We welcome investigation,” he said, “and we give a cordial invitation to al who earnestly seek after the truth and need assistance.”
Mr. Haywood said, “Our work is simply a continuation of the exercises of the apostolic. We try to follow out the injunction of St. Paul who said “Brethren, of your spiritual gifts I would not have you ignorant.”
The movement also has its Bright Hour, at which large congregations of women assemble.