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As Recollected by E. E.
Clayton
Before the building of St. Michaels Healing
Sanctuary, meetings were held in Tennyson Road,
Small Heath and
later in a room above the Co-operative Society in
Yardley. Mrs Walshaw attended
the
meetings in Yardley and was aware of the desire for
premises which could be the centre of their
activities. The
members had been raising funds to build their
church. Mrs Walshaw brought the land
upon the
loan being repaid.
The land
upon which the church is built is freehold. The land
behind the houses Nos 7 and 9 Milton Crescent is
also owned by the church. The land behind No. 5
Milton Crescent was sold to the owners
at that
time to Mr and Mrs Kesterton - in 1986. The concrete
building standing on the land behind Nos.
7
and 9 Milton Crescent replaced the original wooden
shed which was burned down several years ago.
St. Michaels Healing Sanctuary was opened and
dedicated on the 16th of June 1962 as a Christian
Spiritualist Church.
In 1971, the loan having been repaid,
Trustees were appointed. Mrs Walshaw (President), Mr
Roy Turville
(Organist) and Mr Fergus Turner (Treasurer). Mr
Turville died in 1984 but was not replaced as
Trustee. In 1986, Mr Turner wished to resign but it
was not until 1990 when Mrs Walshaw (in her legal
capacity as
trustee)
appointed two new trustees. These were Mr D Bonehill,
President of Harbourne Healing centre
, and Mrs
E E Clayton (Vice President of St Michaels).
A Deed of trust was
made.
In the
Trust Deed the Trustees have to be consulted if the
sale of articles belonging to the Church is
contemplated and also with regard to financial
commitments. In the unlikely event of the attendance
numbers
dropping below six
- after a period of six months, the Trustees are
authorised to sell the Church, and together
with any
monies belonging to the Church, distribute the
proceeds to Charities of their choice. The Altar
furniture
and the
silver and the rest of the furniture would be
distributed to other Churches in the Diocese of
Birmingham,
at the
discretion of the Trustees.
In 1987 it was decided to create more room by re -
siting the Memorial Stone was installed to the
memory of deceased
members.
The original garden was in between the two wings of
the Church. The passage way connecting the two
wings was extended
lengthways to make way the large room where we are
assembled tonight. The wings consisted
of the Church on
one side and the other wing contained the toilets,
kitchen and vestry. The vestry was used by the
Mediums for quiet
meditation before the services and refreshment
afterwards and also utilised by the circle
meetings.
The hatchway for the serving of refreshments was
incorporated in the plan for the extension.
Much work
has been done to improve the Sanctuary over the last
few years - ventilation, roofing, heating,
decoration,
carpets,
curtains and chairs, and this year a complete new
fitted kitchen.
In the garden the
trees have received
attention
and the fencing replaced. A new bench was also
placed in the garden in memory of Mr Bert Faulkner.
A
bequest of several thousand pounds was made to the
Church some time earlier by Miss Monica Norris - a
member
of the
Church for many years. A new organ was purchased and
a plaque was mounted on the organ in memory
of Miss Norris.
As from the year 2000 improvements have been
made. A disabled toilet, and wheel chair slopes
have been
installed,
also security has
been vastly improved. New Trustees have been
appointed through the Church Solicitors.
Trustees are as follows:-
Mrs E E
Clayton
Mr D C
Bonehill
Mrs D E
Couchman
Mrs S P
Cosnett
More improvements are due to be made, possibly for
car parking. St Michaels Healing Sanctuary hopes in
the 21st
century
and beyond.
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