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New 'possessors' found for former spiritualist church

New 'possessors' found for former spiritualist church

Monday 19 August 2024

New 'possessors' found for former spiritualist church

Monday 19 August 2024


The former St Helier site of a church which specialises in clairvoyance and messages from the 'unnamed scribe' of the Bible has been nabbed for less than its asking price – with the new owners intending to keep it as a "community space" for the time being.

The 13 Dorset Street property went on the market in April with an asking price of £220,000 after representatives of the church went before the Royal Court earlier this year to get permission to sell it.

The new owners, a local husband and wife duo, said their plans for the church include "keeping it as a community space for now" but with future plans to renovate it and turn it into a "unique" self catering accommodation.

The church

According to its website, the Greater World Church Jersey C.I. held its first service on July 28 1935 in Espero Hall, the Parade, and was affiliated to the Greater World League, London, in 1936. 

The spiritualist religion took over the site in 1968, nearly 50 years ago.

On their website, the Jersey branch of the Great World Christian Spiritualist Church notes that "unfortunately, the church building is now closed".

The national website said the Spiritualist Church is "where spiritualism or communication with spirit is practiced".

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Pictured: The elusive property went on sale with Maillard & Co for a £220,000 asking price earlier this year.

Its philosophy has been "handed down by trustworthy and highly developed Spirit messengers through Spirit Communion – spirit to human. The much misunderstood 'discerning of spirits' (1 Cor. 12:10) is meant to be a sacred gift to be used for the raising up of humanity in a spiritual sense."

The organisation holds evenings of clairvoyance, and mediums work to bring through messages from "spirit-beings, particularly loved ones who have passed over".

But, after several months on the market, the church's journey finally came to an end this month when the building's sale passed through the Royal Court.

A new lease of life

According to the Jersey Public Registry, Coral Da Silva and Victor Higino Velosa Da Silva purchased 13 Dorset Street – and nabbed it at just under its asking price, for £210,000.

Express spoke to the couple, who said their plans for the church include "keeping it as a community space for now but in the future we have a plan to renovate it and turn it into a unique self catering accommodation".

The couple explained that they intend to advertise the site to anyone who wishes to rent it for use by a faith group, youth group, or even a health/fitness group, giving the space "a chance in its current form".

Islanders or groups who are interested in the space are encouraged to get in touch with the new owners at dorsetstreetchurch@gmail.com.

Coral and Victor said a lack of interest would mean moving ahead with plans to renovate the building into self-catering accommodation.

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