This story happened 35 years ago in 1971. Although I had been interested in Spiritualism for many years and had received spiritual healing for various ailments, some quite serious and the healing having good results and cures, I had never been to a Spiritualist Church. That was until 1971 when my story began.
     At this point I would like to say that I still attend my local church and was President for a number of years. Also, that I have been a registered Spiritual Healer myself for over 30 years and have many stories to tell. The story I am about to share is a true story, and coming up to Halloween, I felt it appropriate for The Night Watchman Chronicles.
     It all began when I moved to the town of Colchester in Essex. This town was once surrounded by a Roman wall, some of which stands to this day and is very steeped in history. There was a terrible battle between the Iceni Tribe, led by Queen Boudicea and the Romans, resulting in much loss of life and terrible carnage. But, I digress.
     In 1972, the Christian Spiritualist Church I found to be held in the back of a very old church building - St. Martin's in Stockwell Street, Colchester, Essex. There were stone steps leading from the road which led to a rather steep path. This path ran alongside of the building. It had been almost derelict for years, with the frontage almost a ruin and the stonework had fallen down. Part of the rear was still standing intact, and the local repertory theater used to also use it for their rehearsals. It was also the then premises where the Spiritualist Church could be found.
     To reach the back of the old church, one had to walk alongside the building and there were very, very old graves on the other side. All this was also flanked by tall trees. It was winter time and very creepy with the outline of the ruined front part outlined against the dark night sky, strong winds blowing through the trees, and whistling round the old gravestones. I used to wonder what on earth people thought we were doing there when they saw the church members coming and going. Unfortunately, at that time, there was no other premises found that the church members could use, so each Sunday evening, we would have to walk along this very creepy path to reach the good part of the old church used for our services.
     I must inform the reader that premises were very hard to find in those far off times unless, of course, the church was rich enough to build their own premises, so we had to take what was going.
     Inside the back of the building it was the same as it had been hundreds of years before with the original pews to sit on. The Repertory Theater had made a platform on which our mediums, who would take service, sat upon. There were beams on the ceiling and, on the beams, held up by chains, were numerous tapestries which looked like ancient flags. The heating was poor and, of course, being a very ancient building, it had that very musty smell of age.
     Now, anyone who had to use the toilet had two choices. These were found behind the stage wall, but nobody in congregation would enter them alone as a presence was sensed there. The only other toilet was an outside one at the far corner of the rear graveyard. No light was there and anyone feeling brave enough had to stumble between old graves in the dark. Yes, a very brave person indeed.
     During our services we noticed a coldness, and although there were no draughts, the cloths hanging from the ceiling started to wave to and fro for no reason. It was also noticed that the medium's addresses to the congregation were getting longer and longer as time went on, often leaving no time for any demonstration of clairvoyance afterwards. These demonstrations have been part of the Spiritualist Church for as long as the churches have been in existence.
     Often, a dark shadow would be seen flitting around during the services. This was very unnerving to us all, what with tapestry cloths waving without reason and seeing the dark shadow. Concentrating on the service was difficult in the extreme.
     The founder and President of the Spiritualist Church was Bernard Balls. He is still very much part of the Port Lane Church which was eventually built in Colchester. Now, Bernie (as he is known) has a guide called Matthew who worked with Bernie in the days of the old church. Bernie, being a trance medium, allowed Matthew to come through him whilst in deep trance. He was wonderful to listen to. Matthew was a black American, a preacher in the deep South many years ago. Matthew explained that he passed 60 years earlier. He informed us that he, too, did not have a proper building to preach from so the people of his church gathered together in the open air. This made his voice powerful as he had to reach everyone. He would also tell us of his life on Earth and of his life in the Spirit World. A lovely guide who we all enjoyed listening to.
     My story concerns the final night that we had to spend in the old St. Martin's Church in Stockwell Street.
     Matthew was talking to us through Bernie as usual when he suddenly stopped speaking and informed us that there was someone else who very much wanted to speak and, as the Spirit was very anxious, Matthew said he would stand aside and let this other Spirit speak through the Medium (Bernie). To our astonishment, this spirit turned out to be a very old priest who had served St. Martin's over 100 years before. When he died, he did not know where else to go, so he stayed in the church. He informed us that Spirit people had been to him from time to time, asking him to leave the church and go with them through the light. He refused to leave the church he had known in life. Then he told something else.
     He was really sorry, but for a long time, he had tried to interfere with the Spiritual Services as he thought what we were doing was evil and against his teachings. Gradually, he said, he had started to listen to what was being said and that it was far from being evil, and he had come to realize that he should not be there and that there was a better place for him to go. He thanked us and asked us to pray for him as when he saw Spirit coming for him, he would stop being afraid and go with them.
     After he left, we closed the service. Our Medium, Bernie, looked so pale, was extremely cold, certainly not his usual self as when Matthew used him to speak. It took us quite awhile to warm Bernie up and get him back to his robust self.
     That night we said goodbye to that old creepy St. Martin's Church for good and eventually we were able to afford a lovely place of our own.
     In the interim period, after St. Martin's, the Friends Meeting House, owned by the Quakers, very kindly let us use it for our services. It was a very pleasant place to be.
    Port Lane Christian Spiritualist Church was built soon after and it is a lovely, warm place to be in and to work. Bernard Balls is still acting President and, although his health suffered a few years ago, he still can be seen greeting us and playing the organ with happy hymns.

 NEWS BULLETIN FROM ANGIE
     I have worked in Port Lane Christian Spiritualist Church for many years and always get a warm welcome. I remembered Brenda recalling this story of St. Martin's some years ago and asked her to kindly write it all down as she remembered it. Thank you, Brenda.