A NEW church has opened in Rhuddlan, and become the new home of the Rhyl & District Spiritualist Centre.

The group celebrated relocating to the former Methodist church, on Gwindy Street, for the first time on Thursday, January 18.

With a great turnout for its opening event, medium Roy Demilow entertained guests, before a buffet for all visitors followed.

"We were all a little bit nervous, to be honest," said treasurer and healing leader, Joan Dempsey.

"Excited, but nervous!"

READ MORE:

Instagram account created posting Prestatyn High School pupils' fights

Area in Kinmel Bay cordoned off as casualty ‘trapped in vehicle’

New Pensarn holiday home to be for disabled people and their families

Jacky Ellis serves as secretary and booking secretary for Rhyl & District Spiritualist Centre, and has been a member for more than 20 years.

She added: "It's such a special evening because we have been trying to get our church our own premises for such a long time."

Before finding its new home, the church rented space from an operatic centre, but this came with its own limitations and challenges.

Jacky added: "The operatic centre was great, because it was really reasonable and we were made very welcome there, but we couldn't do what we wanted to do.

"We could only get the one night per week."

“It just means everything to have our own premises again - there are so many things that we want to do, and now, we can!"

Despite having only had the keys to the building for a matter of weeks, the team have already got stuck in on modifying the premises for the needs of its congregation and community.

"We couldn't have done it without our committee," Jacky added.

"They really are fabulous; they've all pulled together, and they've all got their own niche areas."

The Spiritualists National Union (SNU) obtained legal status as a not for profit corporation in 1901, and in 1902 was joined by the National Spiritualist Federation.

In 1951, the Fraudulent Mediums Act removed the barriers to spiritualists openly and legally practicing the religion.

From this time onwards, Rhyl founded a meeting place where spiritualist services could be held, and residents report having attended such services as children, above premises on Wellington Road.

When the Gwindy Street property was put up for sale, it was purchased as a church and in 1969 was given a Certificate of Incorporation into the SNU, which it still holds to this day.

A series of moves in recent years have found Rhyl SNU Church at Bath Street and, once again at Wellington Road.

Following a short stay at Ffordd Las Community Centre, the church then moved premises to the Operatic Centre on Vale Road, next to St Ann’s Parish Church.

This move will give the church the opportunity to welcome both members and visitors to participate in open circles, awareness classes and development circles.

Private sittings with mediums will also be offered on a regular basis.