History of Salem Hall and Barnstaple Christian Spiritualist Church
Originally Salem Hall was part of Salem Alms houses which were built by Charles Roberts of Bickington in 1834.
In those days Barnstaple was much smaller than it is now, and the Trinity area, which was on the outside of the town of circa 6000 hadn't been developed yet. At that time the whole area was very marshy and was rich in layers of clay. Deep pits were dug in the clay for the making of bricks and clay pots, and shown on maps of the day behind the Alms houses were the "Brick Fields or Lady Meadow." In fact it was here in 1844 that the famous "Barnstaple Elephant" was found: The fossilised remains of the Straight Tusked Elephant is now on display at the museum.
The Alms houses were built to house 24 local folk in need, and Salem Hall when built was multifunctional, acting as a meeting place for the trustees, for celebrations and events, and also on Sundays church services (the Vicar from the Parish church would officiate); at other times it was used as a school room. On the inside if you look to the left you'll still see the fireplace where the caretaker lit a fire eah day in the Winter to keep the cold out. At the 'other end of the block' 30 paces away on the corner where the White Moose Gallery now stands was the School for Boys and this still functioned well into the 1900's.
Barnstaple Christian Spiritualist Church was founded in th first week of July 1948, and was originally formed out of a home circle held in the house of local medium Mrs Higginson, who was in fact our first President. The chuch took up residence in a room in the Queen's Building at the end of the Long Bridge in 1948, but by 1953 (Meg's 30th Birthday) the group resolved to seek their own premises. This was achieved in 1953 when they were able to rent Salem Hall,
and then after saving hard they later were able to buy it outright off the Alms Houses in 1982.
Whilst it was being rented, heating in Salem Hall was like the old days, at least up until the late 1960's, by use of the open fire with the chairs facing it. Sometimes, because of this it was a problem getting to the kitchen as it was so hot,
although it was lovely to see the flames in winter time. After that gas cylinder heaters were used in the 1970's with chairs, changed to the current layout. But once we gained ownership that's when the current central heating system was put in.
In the early days the founding members called the church the "Barnstaple Christian Spiritualist Church," but in the early
1980's a new stained glass window was put in and members originally wanted it inscribed with the names of those who had served the church. But as it was realised there just wouldn't be enough room, Meg proposed that a Spiritual fellowship should be created to thank and honour all in North Devon who had helped the church. So, that is why, in the lovely stained glass window to the south over the rostrum, we have the initials of the "North Devon Spiritual Fellowship" in the motif and the words - "In memory of all who served" - shown adjacent. Our Founders and believers were Christians and built on the philosophy of the "Christ Spirit" and this is why the church is affiliated to the Greater World Christian movement. Also from any early stage in the 1960's the church was registered to perform the many baptisms, marriages and funerals that have take place at Salem Hall over the years.
One of the great driving forces behind the church was Mrs Meg Miller. She was President from when the building was purchased in 1982 for 32 years until her death in 2014; and it is due to the foresight of Meg, along with the other committee members at the time of George Cowie, Queenie Powe, Jean Nolan, Pat Harmer, Pansy Passmore, Ruth Webber, Marion Torr, Grace Daley and Mrs Ayres that we are able to have our own building in the name of Salem Hall, that is mortgage free, unlike many other spiritualist churches in the South-West.
Another stalwart of the church is John Harmer, who recently in 2016 celebrated 50 years of service at this church, taking over being president from Meg in 2014. John, who originally was on the medium circuit in the South-West in his early life, became our organist in 1986 and still plays for our Saturday and Sunday services in the evenings. (Although in latter years we have installed a sound system so John can have the odd evening off!).
For many decades now this church has offered spiritual healing on a Thursday evening from 7 to 8pm, and from 2015 we also started healing on a Monday morning for those that cannot make evenings, and this has proved very popular.
As to the fabric of the building, very little has changed over the years. As can be seen from the front there were two entrances off the street, but in the 1980's one was closed up. Also in the 1990.s the old bell tower on the top of the roof, which was greatly rusted, was removed when the Hall was re-roofed with the present asbestos sheets. In 2013
the paintwork and plaster was becoming very tired, and so the committee agreed to refurbish the interior and put in
new lighting over the winter of 2013/2014 and this has made for a beautiful area now to hold services, healing,
workshops and the many other events and cirlces that are held at the church.
In 2017 at the AGM Natasha Bell took over from John as President, who also serves as a medium on the rostrum
and is a very able leader.
Please look under the other tabs for times of services and what else is going on at the church.
We look forward to welcoming and seeing you in ther future.
Originally Salem Hall was part of Salem Alms houses which were built by Charles Roberts of Bickington in 1834.
In those days Barnstaple was much smaller than it is now, and the Trinity area, which was on the outside of the town of circa 6000 hadn't been developed yet. At that time the whole area was very marshy and was rich in layers of clay. Deep pits were dug in the clay for the making of bricks and clay pots, and shown on maps of the day behind the Alms houses were the "Brick Fields or Lady Meadow." In fact it was here in 1844 that the famous "Barnstaple Elephant" was found: The fossilised remains of the Straight Tusked Elephant is now on display at the museum.
The Alms houses were built to house 24 local folk in need, and Salem Hall when built was multifunctional, acting as a meeting place for the trustees, for celebrations and events, and also on Sundays church services (the Vicar from the Parish church would officiate); at other times it was used as a school room. On the inside if you look to the left you'll still see the fireplace where the caretaker lit a fire eah day in the Winter to keep the cold out. At the 'other end of the block' 30 paces away on the corner where the White Moose Gallery now stands was the School for Boys and this still functioned well into the 1900's.
Barnstaple Christian Spiritualist Church was founded in th first week of July 1948, and was originally formed out of a home circle held in the house of local medium Mrs Higginson, who was in fact our first President. The chuch took up residence in a room in the Queen's Building at the end of the Long Bridge in 1948, but by 1953 (Meg's 30th Birthday) the group resolved to seek their own premises. This was achieved in 1953 when they were able to rent Salem Hall,
and then after saving hard they later were able to buy it outright off the Alms Houses in 1982.
Whilst it was being rented, heating in Salem Hall was like the old days, at least up until the late 1960's, by use of the open fire with the chairs facing it. Sometimes, because of this it was a problem getting to the kitchen as it was so hot,
although it was lovely to see the flames in winter time. After that gas cylinder heaters were used in the 1970's with chairs, changed to the current layout. But once we gained ownership that's when the current central heating system was put in.
In the early days the founding members called the church the "Barnstaple Christian Spiritualist Church," but in the early
1980's a new stained glass window was put in and members originally wanted it inscribed with the names of those who had served the church. But as it was realised there just wouldn't be enough room, Meg proposed that a Spiritual fellowship should be created to thank and honour all in North Devon who had helped the church. So, that is why, in the lovely stained glass window to the south over the rostrum, we have the initials of the "North Devon Spiritual Fellowship" in the motif and the words - "In memory of all who served" - shown adjacent. Our Founders and believers were Christians and built on the philosophy of the "Christ Spirit" and this is why the church is affiliated to the Greater World Christian movement. Also from any early stage in the 1960's the church was registered to perform the many baptisms, marriages and funerals that have take place at Salem Hall over the years.
One of the great driving forces behind the church was Mrs Meg Miller. She was President from when the building was purchased in 1982 for 32 years until her death in 2014; and it is due to the foresight of Meg, along with the other committee members at the time of George Cowie, Queenie Powe, Jean Nolan, Pat Harmer, Pansy Passmore, Ruth Webber, Marion Torr, Grace Daley and Mrs Ayres that we are able to have our own building in the name of Salem Hall, that is mortgage free, unlike many other spiritualist churches in the South-West.
Another stalwart of the church is John Harmer, who recently in 2016 celebrated 50 years of service at this church, taking over being president from Meg in 2014. John, who originally was on the medium circuit in the South-West in his early life, became our organist in 1986 and still plays for our Saturday and Sunday services in the evenings. (Although in latter years we have installed a sound system so John can have the odd evening off!).
For many decades now this church has offered spiritual healing on a Thursday evening from 7 to 8pm, and from 2015 we also started healing on a Monday morning for those that cannot make evenings, and this has proved very popular.
As to the fabric of the building, very little has changed over the years. As can be seen from the front there were two entrances off the street, but in the 1980's one was closed up. Also in the 1990.s the old bell tower on the top of the roof, which was greatly rusted, was removed when the Hall was re-roofed with the present asbestos sheets. In 2013
the paintwork and plaster was becoming very tired, and so the committee agreed to refurbish the interior and put in
new lighting over the winter of 2013/2014 and this has made for a beautiful area now to hold services, healing,
workshops and the many other events and cirlces that are held at the church.
In 2017 at the AGM Natasha Bell took over from John as President, who also serves as a medium on the rostrum
and is a very able leader.
Please look under the other tabs for times of services and what else is going on at the church.
We look forward to welcoming and seeing you in ther future.