Honouring more than eight decades of Spirit in Chatswood and the Lower North Shore

Chatswood Spiritualist Church has been a quiet, steady presence on Sydney’s Lower North Shore since the early 1940s. From humble beginnings in a modest room on Victoria Avenue to our long-standing home in the Girl Guides Hall at Artarmon, our story is one of faith, service, and community – carried forward by generations of volunteers, mediums, healers and friends.

Origins: 1940s – First Gatherings on Victoria Avenue

Our story begins in the early 1940s, when a small group of Spiritualists began gathering in a room at 430 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood. At a time marked by war and uncertainty, these early pioneers created a space where people could find comfort, evidence of life beyond physical death, and the healing presence of Spirit.

Afternoon and evening services were held each week, with visiting mediums offering addresses and demonstrations to growing congregations. There were socials, tea and cake shared after services, and a strong sense of friendship and mutual support.

Those early meetings laid the foundations for what would become known as Chatswood Spiritualist Church, a community that has continued in an unbroken line from those war-time years to today.

Transition: Finding a Spiritual Home in Artarmon

As the church community grew, so did the need for a more suitable and regular meeting place.

In time, Chatswood Spiritualist Church moved from Victoria Avenue to the Girl Guides Hall in Artarmon, tucked behind the local tennis courts off Barton Street / Thomson Avenue.

The hall quickly became more than just a venue. It was lovingly set up week after week, chairs arranged, flowers placed on the platform, candles lit, and healing chairs set aside in quiet corners. For many, walking up the path to the hall felt like coming home: a familiar space where Spirit was honoured, loved ones remembered, and new friendships formed.

Over the years, this simple community hall has witnessed countless services, messages from Spirit, workshops, naming ceremonies, celebrations of life, and moments of quiet personal transformation.

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Decades of Dedicated Service

From the 1950s through to the present day, the church has been guided by a succession of dedicated committees, presidents, mediums, healers and volunteers. Each generation has brought its own gifts, from platform demonstrations and spiritual healing to music, teaching, and quiet behind-the-scenes work.

Through changing times and changing suburbs, the heart of Chatswood Spiritualist Church has remained the same:

  • A place of welcome for those seeking comfort after loss.

  • A place of learning for those exploring mediumship and spiritual development.

  • A place of service for those offering their time and talents to support others.

Many who attend today were first brought by a parent, grandparent or friend decades ago. Others have found us more recently through social media or a simple internet search. However they arrive, they become part of a story that stretches back over eighty years.

Honouring Our Past, Serving the Present

In more recent years, Chatswood Spiritualist Church has continued to evolve while staying true to its roots. Alongside Sunday services and healing, the church now hosts:

  • Spiritual development groups and training circles

  • Workshops with local and international mediums and teachers

  • Special open days, where the wider community can experience readings and healing

  • Ceremonies and services that honour key moments along life’s journey

While the format of our gatherings may have changed over time, the intention remains the same as it was in those early 1940s meetings: to provide a compassionate spiritual home where Spirit is acknowledged, healing is offered, and people can discover, or rediscover, their own connection with the world of Spirit.

A Story Still Being Written

The history of Chatswood Spiritualist Church is not only found in old notices and photographs, it lives in the memories and hearts of those who have walked through our doors.

Each person who has sat in our hall, received a message, given a healing, or simply shared a cup of tea after service has added another thread to our story.

As we look to the future, we do so with deep gratitude for those who came before us, and with a renewed commitment to keep the light of Spiritualism shining in our community for many years to come.

“From a small room in wartime Chatswood to a much-loved hall in Artarmon, our story is one of Spirit, service, and community.”