A History of Stourbridge National Spiritualist Church

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It was evidence of this calibre that first persuaded Eric, in the 1940s, that not only do we all survive death but communication between this world and the next is a reality. A bonus for Eric in his final years was that Sue’s dog, Suko, came with her and “became more Eric’s than mine”. She adds: “They had such a devoted bond, and throughout his last illness she refused to leave his side even for a moment, to the extent that she would not even go to the kitchen to eat. It is impossible to express my feelings on the physical loss of my beloved companion. I know only two things: that we shall never see his like again, and that I have been more fortunate and blessed than I could ever possibly have imagined or deserved.” In a life that spanned almost nine decades, it is inevitable that most memories of Eric Hatton will be associated with the past and with people who have long since passed to the spirit world. But Eric, who had a mischievous sense of humour and was great company, was also very modern in his outlook. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.

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And with that conviction came a determination to comfort whenever he could others who were grieving and to encourage them to explore the spiritual implications that came with that knowledge. One can only imagine the greeting he would have received in the spirit world from those he worked with for decades in promoting the truths of Spiritualism: mediums, healers, speakers and, above all, his wife Heather (pictured with him, right), who had made the same journey eight years earlier, following her death in June 2007. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local community. Through the excellent mediumship of Gerard Smith, Eileen Davies and John Conway, to name but three, I received graphic and detailed personal evidence which surprised even me.

Facebook has also given many admirers among his family and friends the opportunity of expressing their love and admiration for him, and the following few comments remind us of his many qualities. His commercial skills – he was a successful businessman – were also in demand within the Spiritualist movement. Eric was president of Stourbridge Spiritualist Church for almost half a century, from 1963 until he stepped down in 2011, but had held other posts at the church since 1948. At the time of his passing he was honorary president. As Modern Spiritualism moves into the 21st Century, we continue to be excited by and dedicated to the excellent work of the spirit carried out within our Church and its neighbouring communities. And that is how Eric and Heather came to meet – not in Stourbridge Spiritualist Church, as one might imagine, but at a rehearsal of the North Worcestershire Operatic Society. As those who knew Eric were well aware, music was as important in his life as Spiritualism and he often combined both with his memorable solo performances at Spiritualist meetings.

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Laraine Killarney, president and acting minister at Stourbridge Spiritualist Church, said: "They've all done more than 25 years and they've all worked on committees or as healers - giving service to the church to keep it going. That's an awful lot of experience and dedication." Jamie Beech, his grandson, wrote: “So sad to lose my grandfather this weekend but knowing he is free of pain and suffering makes this all a lot easier. Words can’t describe what he was to me so I will just say, he was my inspiration, hero and best friend all at the same time.”

Their long and happy courtship culminated in marriage at the Stourbridge church on 27 Dec 1955, after which they produced two children, Lisa and Jonathan, and began giving energetic support not only to that church but also to other Spiritualist bodies.

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The second of those occurred early in 2008 when Eric Hatton walked into my office at Psychic News. Our meeting was intended to be brief, but I recall that we talked for about two hours, non-stop. I listened spellbound to his accounts of the great mediums and speakers he had known, plying him with questions, recognising that he possessed a depth of knowledge, experience and wisdom unmatched by anyone in the Movement. The subject was first raised by his older brother, Bert, when home on leave from the Royal Air Force. He told Eric and their sister, Laura, that whilst working on Catalina and Sunderland flying boats he and other crew members had “seen” colleagues who had been killed in aircraft accidents. They even experienced these phantom airmen walking straight through them.Being just five miles off the mainland, the Isle of Wight was heavily targeted by the Luftwaffe during World War Two, because early warning radar equipment was located there, and so, for their daughter’s safety, the Jermys decided to send her to Stourbridge, to be close to her sister-in-law. It was at Stourbridge Spiritualist Church that Eric Hatton first saw Gordon Higginson demonstrating mediumship