The History of The Beeches

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It is always interesting to know of the experiences of others, how churches were started in faith and how the initial difficulties were overcome by the founders to spread the word of spirit.   The Ipswich Christian Spiritualist Church The Beeches illustrates once again what can be done when the right workers are found.

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The Beeches was built during an era of solidly built houses and for the past 85 years has become the centre of light for the spiritualist truth in Ipswich.    But How did it all begin?

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The Death of Percy Murrell

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In 1929 a Mrs Florence Murrell lost her 14 years old son Percy.   Great sorrow engulfed her.  She had no knowledge of spirit survival and her grief was so great her friend asked her to attend a service at the Ipswich Physic Society.  She did so, and at the second meeting a description of a boy was given to her through a medium accompanied by a message she could not doubt.   We must remember at this time Spiritualism was frowned upon, and to attend a service where mediumship was given was not easy.

 A little later when she visited the boys grave on his birthday, December 18th, she was shown how a great spirit power was being built up around her.   To her amazement at his grave,  he fully materialised before her and said, "come mother we will go home now".  Florence felt his hand on her arm and Mrs Murrell did not remember the journey back to her home.  She only came to herself when she was in her own room.  The tea was laid out on the table, and arranged in a vase were the white chrysanthemums that she has taken to put on the boys grave.

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From that day Mrs Murrell did not look back, faith and hope returned to her.  She was to write later "if I can devote the rest of my life to spreading the truth still I can never repay one quarter of what has been given to me."

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Florence did devote her life from that day to work for the world of spirit.  It was in her role as a spiritual healer that she met a nurse called Miss Emma Jones.  The nurse herself had suffered ill health and was receiving spiritual healing from Florence, witnessing first hand its benefits.

She and Florence became firm friends, and watched Florence work tirelessly with patients, Nurse Jones decided that a place should be opened where all could share the beautiful healing.

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In 1942 The Beeches was acquired by Nurse Jones to be used as a dedicated centre for providing

spiritual healing for the community.   Thus, Nurse Jones became our benefactress.   Her gesture

was an act of gratitude for the years of help given to her  by Mrs Murrell.  The latter becoming

the Churches founder president and resident medium.

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The property which is a double fronted house, built in 1860 was purchased, but alterations had to be made to the building before it could be used as a healing sanctuary/spiritualist church.  As it was wartime, labour and materials were difficult to come by.  Two mediums Mr Jim Puttick and Mr Eric Wiffen from Romford, who had come to know Mrs Murrell volunteered to do the work.  They travelled weekly from Romford on the train, often bringing materials needed with them.   Both became trustees of the church and worked for many years as visiting mediums.  

 

Also in 1942, following the death of his wife a Mr Gautrey, joined the Beeches.  He had been told many times by mediums of the great healing power he processed.  He and Mrs Murrell were so much  in sympathy over the work that they did, they married in 1944 and both devoted all their time they could to the healing ministry and notable successes were achieved.

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Throughout the years, many people joined and the church continued to grow with the willing helpers who ran the committee.  Sadly, after many years of devoted service Nurse Jones passed to the higher life in 1953.  For the following years Mrs Gautrey continued to work for the church as both president and medium.  Such was her commitment she became known as far more than her roles, becoming an institution for the Beeches. Mrs Gautrey (formally Mrs Murrell) passed to spirit on the 30th November 1959.

 

As the years went by, the Church continued to grow by willing helpers joining the committee, and every effort was directed towards creating a true beacon of  light in the Ipswich area.  

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