CHURCH HISTORY
White Eagle, the well known spirit guide of Grace Cooke is
claimed to be the instigator of Kenton Spiritualist Church.
White Eagle was said to have once described himself as a
"builder of churches" and made his wishes about Kenton Church
known and actually specified the venue. The claim is made in a
letter from Grace Cooke to Len Russell, who in 1972 was the Church
President.
Grace wrote from the White Eagle Lodge at Liss, Hants. It
revolves round Grace and her husband Iver settling down in Ruislip
after their return from Australia in 1925 and actively involving
themselves in Harrow Spiritualist Church affairs.
In addition to public work, Grace started a private group
for spiritual development and it is from this source that the
legend stems.
It was during this time that the concept of establishing a
Spiritualist Church at Kenton was first talked about. The Oak room
in Churchill Hall at Northwick Park was specified and in 1928 the
Church was officially inaugurated. Services and meetings were held
here every week as well as fundraising events such as bazaars.
The first President was Major Milne. After Major Milne came Mr. Islip as President with his
brother Walter as treasurer and Miss Islip as secretary. Aided by
a small committee, the family ran the Church for many years and as
membership grew, a building fund was set up and intensive
fundraising efforts undertaken.
Soon over £500 had been collected
(a lot of money in those days) and in 1932 a plot of land was
purchased at Woodcock Hill and fenced in. It was about this time that the Cookes pulled out and set up
the White Eagle Lodge in Kensington. There are now many White
Eagle Lodges around the world and the main one is at Liss,
Hampshire.
In 1950 Mr. And Mrs Bower took over as president and
secretary and looked after the Church for nearly 14 years. During
this time, the Oak room at Churchill Hall was still being used; as
the plot of land earmarked for the site became the subject of
complaint from the local council. This concerned the condition it
was in. The property was then transferred to the Spiritualist
National Union. It was then sold and the proceeds held in trust.
By doing this, the hard work, devotion and efforts of the previous
workers were not wasted.
The couple, however, had to leave the area and in the
absence of a committee and the looming prospect of closure, the
then London District Council stepped in with an offer of help,
which was gratefully accepted.
In January 1964, Len Russell was appointed President and
Lesley Davey (at that time London District Council President)
became treasurer. Lesley held this post until 1968. Soon the
search was on for a suitable property and after many
disappointments and planning refusals, Len finally found the
present property at 35 Churchill Avenue near main bus and train
routes.
Before the house deal could be completed, permission had to
be obtained from Brent Council and a three year temporary planning
permission permit granted. The Spiritualist National Union
surveyed the property and allowed the Church a mortgage; which
together with the cash held in reserve, allowed the deal to go
through.
This was early 1967 and a date in April was arranged for
the official opening. This meant that everything had to be done
very quickly. Mr. Russell undertook to get the structural work
done, Mr and Mrs Brooke saw to the interior decoration and
curtains.
After all this activity, the work was completed in time for
the opening. "A credit to all concerned" said Len "including our
spirit helpers". About 70 people attended the opening ceremony and
owing to a lack of seating, many had to be turned away.
The upstairs part of the house was converted into a flat and
let to suitable tenants; initially they were people that worked
for the Church. In 1978 the mortgage was finally paid off thus ensuring that
Kenton has its own Spiritualist Church for all time. Len was
President for 12 years and Mrs Russell was a committee member
also.
Picture: Mr. & Mrs. Russell
Picture: Betty Kotecha, current President
Picture: Audrey Stewart, current Vice President
There is a thriving committee. Services take place twice a
week - Thursday evenings at 7.45 and Sunday evenings at 6.30.
There is also a dedicated group of healers and healing is on
Wednesday evening from 7.30 until 9. The Church has a development
circle on Tuesday evenings at 7.30.
The Church is a sanctuary for everyone that steps through
the door and now as then we give out our love, concern, kindness
and happiness to all that enter - striving never to hurt anyone by
word or deed. All will be helped or refreshed and this will never
change.
It has been said that the Church was built in the Spirit
World first. The calm, peaceful atmosphere of our Church seems to
support this.