About East Hamilton Spiritual Church
Our Church Story - How We Began
Nestled in the heart of the Crown Point Community, East Hamilton Spiritual Church has resided for over 106 years.
Our commitment to establish a permanent home for EHSC began when a devoted group of Spiritualists came together with the desire to create a space they could call their own. Land on Balmoral St. N. was purchased and the original church was built in 1921. The church would become the Spiritual hub for Spiritualists far and wide, travelling from across Canada, the U.S.A. and the U.K.
In 1973, the Balmoral St. church property was sold to the city for redevelopment and in 1974, EHSC relocated to their current home of 83 Ottawa St. N., a picturesque, cozy dwelling, steps away from the original Tim Hortons & within walking distance of many unique shops and restaurants in the Ottawa St. shopping district.
Here we are, over 106 years later, continuing to be the Spiritual haven for the Spiritual community at large, welcoming and embracing all, honoring our Mission Statement to teach and proclaim the Science, Philosophy and Religion of Spiritualism.
Thank you to Philip Dykes & Kerry McLeod for creating the video below, capturing EHSC's journey and commitment to Spiritualism.
Nestled in the heart of the Crown Point Community, East Hamilton Spiritual Church has resided for over 106 years.
Our commitment to establish a permanent home for EHSC began when a devoted group of Spiritualists came together with the desire to create a space they could call their own. Land on Balmoral St. N. was purchased and the original church was built in 1921. The church would become the Spiritual hub for Spiritualists far and wide, travelling from across Canada, the U.S.A. and the U.K.
In 1973, the Balmoral St. church property was sold to the city for redevelopment and in 1974, EHSC relocated to their current home of 83 Ottawa St. N., a picturesque, cozy dwelling, steps away from the original Tim Hortons & within walking distance of many unique shops and restaurants in the Ottawa St. shopping district.
Here we are, over 106 years later, continuing to be the Spiritual haven for the Spiritual community at large, welcoming and embracing all, honoring our Mission Statement to teach and proclaim the Science, Philosophy and Religion of Spiritualism.
Thank you to Philip Dykes & Kerry McLeod for creating the video below, capturing EHSC's journey and commitment to Spiritualism.
Our Church History
East Hamilton Spiritual Church is an independent Spiritual church, with a growing congregation of all ages.
(Church history, as documented in our church archives/records and government documents.)
East Hamilton Spiritual Church is an independent Spiritual church, with a growing congregation of all ages.
(Church history, as documented in our church archives/records and government documents.)
- October 20, 1903 - The founding members of East Hamilton Spiritual Church incorporated the church under its original name - First Spiritual Society of Hamilton, although the church was in existence many years before this original incorporation, gathering for services in the homes of its members.
- 1905 - 1918 - First Spiritual Society of Hamilton acquired the use of 126 James St. N. to hold their church services, relocating to 1032 Barton St. E. in 1919. (See 1919 - 1921 below)
- September 24, 2018 - A Charter was granted to change the name from First Spiritual Society of Hamilton to East Hamilton Spiritual Church, affectionately known as (EHSC).
- September 25, 1918 - Letters Patent (incorporation) as EHSC is signed by EHSC Board members: Herbert Pickles (EHSC's first President), Benjamin Hunt, Thomas Gretton, Peter Hockley, Richard Crowther, Emma Slack, Harriet Gretton, and Mary Hunt.
- 1919 - 1921 - In the early days, distance and travelling time from the Eastern part of the city to central Hamilton was not as convenient as today. To resolve this issue, East Hamilton Spiritual Church relocated their gatherings to 1032 Barton St. E. During this time, the church, through the support and devotion of its congregation, raised the monies needed to purchase land around the corner on Balmoral St. N. and proceeded to build their own church.
- March 11, 1919 - To fulfill our commitment to establish a permanent home for EHSC, two lots of what was then known as the Maple Leaf Park Survey were purchased from Mrs. Sarah W. I. Diamond (Lot 12, frontage 32'; part of lot 13, frontage 14', making a total of 46' on the West side of Balmoral Avenue. County of Wentworth, Second Concession of Barton, City of Hamilton. Price $1,242).
- March 15, 1921 - A mortgage from Thomas N. Stables of $2,000 was taken out to add a subdivision of Lot 5 of the Maple Leaf Park Survey.
- 1921 - a new purpose built church was opened at 299/301 Balmoral Avenue N., just south of Barton Street, in the eastern end of the city, a few blocks from the present church location.
- August 15, 1927 - After almost four years of separation, an agreement was signed between EHSC and the Church of Spiritualism bringing the two churches back together once more as East Hamilton Spiritual Church.
- May 1, 1973 - EHSC was designated as a charitable organization, whose status remains in good standing.
- October 12, 1973 - the Lots for the current Ottawa Street location (lot 371) were purchased (price $32,500) with adjustments made on October 19, 1973 for 5' of the (south) neighboring lot (lot 370).
- May 2, 1974 - As new land owners, supplement to the Letters Patent of September 25, 1918, was signed which states: “PROVIDE that, upon dissolution of the Corporation and after the payment of all debts and liabilities, its remaining property shall be distributed or disposed of to one or more recognized charitable organizations in Canada".
- June 3, 1974 - The sale of the Balmoral Avenue location to the city of Hamilton for purposes of a municipal parking lot was finalized. The church then relocated to its present location at 83 Ottawa Street North.
- September 25, 2011 - EHSC became an independent Spiritual Church.
- May 8, 2016, Mother's Day - EHSC ordained its first Minister, Reverend Kathleen Barnard. Rev. Barnard is the first official ordained Minister of East Hamilton Spiritual Church.
- September 23, 2017 - EHSC ordained its second Minister, Reverend Karen Harkness.
- November 19, 2017 - EHSC appointed it's first Honorary Minister, Reverend Susan Dinsmore, followed by an official church celebration on December 17, 2017.
- November 21, 2017 - EHSC was recognized by the Office of the Registrar General as a religious body for the purpose of solemnizing marriages in Ontario under the provisions of the Marriage Act.
- September 23, 2018 - EHSC held two celebratory Sunday services in honor of their 100th Anniversary under the incorporated name of East Hamilton Spiritual Church (Anniversary date - September 25, 2018).
- July 31, 2019 - Rev. Karen Harkness retired.
- October 10, 2019 - EHSC ordained its third Minister, Reverend Denise Ryan.
- December 12, 2021 - EHSC bestowed unto Gisele Marshall, the status of Lifetime Member.
- September 25, 2022 - EHSC celebrated their 104th Anniversary with a Dedication of the land and its properties to the Religion, Philosophy and Science of Spiritualism.
- May 26, 2024 - EHSC ordained its fourth Minister, Reverend David Jewell.
