History of Rhyl Christian Spiritualist Church by Arthur G Booker The date of when the Church began in Rhyl has not yet been authenticated, but research is ongoing. It is known however, that in the late 1950's and the early 1960's the Services were held in a rented room above Oliver's Shoe Shop, located on the corner of Wellington Road and Queen Street. The Nationwide Building Society now occupies the building. In 1968 Gwynfa Villa off Thorpe Street, Rhyl, was purchased. It was a four bedroomed house overlooking the railway sidings and coal yard. By 1969 two walls had been removed on the ground floor inside the house to make an 'L' shaped room, leaving the other ground floor room as it was. Panelling was fixed to the walls to obviate the future need to decorate. The late Mr Ken Dreardon, a member of the Church and whose trade was Carpenter & Joiner, carried out this work along with constructing the Rostrum which was placed on the northern side of the room, positioned so that everyone could see the Medium(s); members of the committee helped where possible. Toilets, accessible from inside the building, were built onto the ground floor exterior of the western wall. All rooms were carpeted and storage heaters installed in ground floor rooms. The first floor rooms were turned into a flat to be occupied by a caretaker. Unfortunately this caused problems; in a very short time the tenant complained about the noise of the music etc, when services were held and so quitted the flat. It has never been used as such since. Mrs Irene Williams was the longest serving Church President, holding the office for 16 years until 2002. Our current President, Mrs Joan Dempsey, (elected annually), has held the Presidence fot two and a half years. Under her leadership, a hard working Church Committee, along with certain volunteer members of the Church, have transformed the interior, creating an even more spiriutal and warm welcoming atmosphere together with more activities within the Church. The railway sidings and coal yard have long since dissappeared to be replaced by a large municipal car park allowing cars to be parked (free after 5pm) within a few meters of the church. Public transport is a very short distance away. Our Church building is now included in a quiet Conservation Area. Research by Arthur G Booker, Vice President 2008 |