This is the Official Page of East Hamilton Spiritual Church - Canada's Oldest Spiritual Church - Incorporated September 25th, 2018 (originally incorporated October 20th, 1903 as The First Spiritualist Society of Hamilton) This is the Official Page of East Hamilton Spiritual Church
East Hamilton Spiritual Church is the Oldest Spiritual Church in Canada
East Hamilton Spiritual Church's History, as documented in the Church's archives
East Hamilton Spiritual Church is an independent church, with a growing congregation, whose attendees travel from as far as Niagara Falls, St. Catherine's, Brantford, Caledonia and Hamilton's surrounding areas.
* October 20, 1903 - The founding members of East Hamilton Spiritual Church incorporated the church under its original name First Spiritual Society of Hamilton
* September 24, 1918 - A Charter was granted to change the name from First Spiritual Society of Hamilton to East Hamilton Spiritual Church (EHSC)
* September 25, 1918 - Letters Patent (incorporation) as EHSC is signed by EHSC Board members: Herbert Pickles (EHSC's first President), Benjamin Hunt, Thomas Gretton, Peter Hockley, Richard Crowther, Emma Slack, Harriet Gretton, and Mary Hunt
* EHSC was located in the city Centre. In those early days, distance and traveling time from the Eastern part of the city was not as convenient as they are today, so this church decided to organize and build a church closer to their home environment
* March 11, 1919 - EHSC purchased two lots of what was then known as the Maple Leaf Park Survey from Mrs. County of Wentworth, Second Concession of Barton, City of Hamilton. Price $1,242)
* March 15, 1921 - A mortgage from Thomas N. Stables of $2,000 was taken out to add a subdivision of Lot 5 of the Maple Leaf Park Survey
* In 1921 a new purpose built church was opened on Balmoral Avenue, just off Barton Street, in the eastern end of the city, a few block from the present church location
* August 15, 1927 - After almost four years of separation, an agreement was signed between EHSC and the Church of Spiritualism bringing the two churches back together once more as East Hamilton Spiritual Church.
* October 12, 1973 - Lots for the current Ottawa Street location (lots 370 and 371) were purchased (price $32,500) with adjustments made on October 19, 1973 for 5' of the neighboring lot
* May 2, 1974 - As new landowners, a supplement to Letters Patent was signed which states: “PROVIDE that, upon dissolution of the Corporation and after the payment of all debts and liabilities, its remaining property shall be distributed or disposed of to one or more recognized charitable organizations in Canada"
* June 3, 1974 - EHSC sold the Balmoral Avenue location to the city of Hamilton for purposes of a parking lot and the church was then relocated to its present location at 83 Ottawa Street North.
* May 8th, 2016, Mother's Day, EHSC ordained their first Minister, Rev. Kathleen Barnard
* September 23rd, 2017, EHSC ordained their second Minister, Rev. Karen Harkness
* November 19th, 2017, EHSC appointed their first Honorary Minister. Susan Dinsmore.
* November 21st, 2017. EHSC was recognized by the Office of the Registrar General as a religious body for the purpose of solemnizing marriages in Ontario under the Provisions of the Marriage Act.
* September 23, 2018 - EHSC held two celebratory Sunday services in honor of their 100th Anniversary under the incorporated name of East Hamilton Spiritual Church (Anniversary date - September 25, 2018).
* July 31, 2019 - Rev. Karen Harkness retired.
* October 10, 2019 - EHSC ordained its third Minister, Reverend Denise Ryan.
* December 12, 2021 - EHSC bestowed unto Gisele Marshall, the status of Lifetime Member. The East Hamilton Spiritual Church is a registered charitable organization in good standing. (Registration number: 11889 1027 RR0001)
