Developers in
London have applied to Camden Borough Council for permission to demolish the
Rochester
Square Spiritualist Temple. They want to build residential units and a gallery there. This is one of the most famous Spiritualist churches in
the world and is one of the cornerstones of Spiritualism in
Britain. It was founded in 1926 and has hosted such greats as
Arthur Conan Doyle and Helen Duncan. Please sign this petition to save it:
https://gopetition.com/petitions/save-rochester-spiritualist-temple.html.
Margaret Hahn, Helen Duncan's
granddaughter, as made the following appeal to the Spiritualist National Union:
"Helen Duncan's granddaughter
My personal statement:
I became involved in assisting Rochester Square Spiritualist Temple, to help their
members save their church. Not many people may know, but my grandmother Helen
Duncan, was visited by someone of that congregation, when she was in Holloway
prison awaiting trial.
I can inform you first hand after reviewing Camden Planning
documents via online, from my understanding and from my own research, these are
the facts I have found. The SNU has lied about the church closing in 2012, it
may look to have closed in January 2014, but online it is written that the last
meeting was on the 6thSeptember 2014. It was only closed to be refurbished this
is SNU statement in The Evening Standard.
How can members support or trust an organization that lies
on public record? As I've stated before, I have heard from many churches up and
down the country, hearing the same story of churches being closed after they
have asked for my help from their own organisation, who are listed as a
charity.
This is the first time I became involved since this Church
has such historical value to many Spiritualists that care. As one of the greatest
physical mediums of our times Helen Duncan's granddaughter, I knew I had to
become involved.
I would like to ask the SNU why don't they use the 13
million pounds that are publicly known to be in their bank account. Yes you
heard me correct 13 million, is that there to help the community? Every charity
should have six months in reserves, but 13 million? I will correct this
statement it's 11 million in assets. From the charity commission. Link below
anyone can look up the financials.
I worked for Charities and any extra money we always
reinvested it into the community we served. Yes, I know the SNU will do
fundraising and give that money to another charity but how much do they give
from their bank account?
The SNU has a legal, ethical and moral responsibility to
maintain a property since taking on the role as trustee’s, It appears no
maintenance, or refurbishment way done to the exterior, allowing for
overgrowth. So what happens when the Trustee who took over the building
neglects it. I'll tell you it becomes an eyesore within the community. How does
a community respond to an eyesore they want it gone.
Another question I have to the SNU is couldn't you have
spent 50 pound a month out of your 13 million in the bank to ensure that the
property didn't become an eyesore?
It was mentioned in a newspaper article back in March 2014,
which involved some squatters, the SNU spokesperson stated they would refurbish
the building, what happened?
Was it left intentionally to appear as an eyesore to the
community in which it served? I believe this is exactly what was done. I will
attach pictures so you can see.
The question is who do you trust when the very body, that
the church has become affiliated with such as the SNU, don’t act in the best
interests of the church, their members or the community. I have heard that many
churches have taken out loans to help cover the costs, only to have their
churches sieged on failure to meet the requirements in the upkeep. Is this the
reason why so many churches are closing and being sold off, to cover the cost
of a take-out loan? Another thing I have heard and is common knowledge within
the Spiritualists Community is if a church has problems or the SNU has wants to
sell the church. The SNU puts in their own committee forcing members out and of
course the SNU committee wil vote however the NEC wants. Selling the church.
I'd like to ask the SNU out of all the churches they've
sold over the years how many have been restablished? My guess is it's not many
Let's see if I get a response from the SNU.
Surely, Spiritualists should help Spiritualists, like some
did in the past, like Hannen Swaffer, Barbie (Maurice Barbanell) who were a
part of this very Church, who supported my grandmother. Look what happened to
my grandmother and her personal property. I put the question to you, where do
your loyalties stand? To fight for what is right or to bury your head in the
sand. It might this church now, but tomorrow it might be yours. Same thing goes
for your certification I know of one man who fought to save Wimbledon church and the
SNU revoked his certification. Good medium too, yes SNU I hear everything.
Pretty sad that I 10,000 miles away know what's going on."
