The Cowichan Spiritualist Church of Healing and Light was started as an affiliate church of the I.S.A., the International Spiritualist Alliance, on October 6, 1991, by Rev. Patricia Gunn and her husband Ian Gunn. The Cowichan Spiritualist Church was incorporated by the BC Government on Nov. 4, 1999, and in 2004 became fully independent from the I.S.A. Becoming independent gave us the right to train and ordain our own Ministers.
The first service was held at Somenos Hall on Hwy. 18, Duncan, with about 40 people in attendance. The church has continued to grow. In 1998, we moved to the larger brighter Mercury Theatre at 331 Brae Road in Duncan. When the Mercury Theatre closed in 2023, the church moved to its present home at Providence Farm Chapel, 1843 Tzouhalem Road, with events and occasional services held at Sands Funeral Home, 187 Trunk Road.
Our Spiritualist Church became a registered charity in 2006. You can make a minimum donation of $10 and receive a tax-deductible receipt.
Cowichan Spiritualist Church Beginnings (Rev. Patricia Gunn, March 6, 2022):
From the beginning, the aim of the church has been to prove that our souls survive physical death, and that we maintain our personal identities. As people in the world of spirit, we can communicate with our loved ones on earth when and if we wish to. With this knowledge we hope to release people from the fear of death, as well as to bring comfort and healing to those who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
The church also teaches the philosophy of life that goes with this knowledge: not only are we eternal beings with souls, we also have the responsibility for our own spiritual growth. Our Sunday addresses, classes and workshops are designed to give people tools and inspiration to live their lives the very best that they can. We believe that everyone has the ability to connect with spirit in varying degrees, so we encourage others to develop their own gifts and find their own connection to Spirit and God.
During each church service we have an opening and closing prayer, some uplifting songs, a short spiritual reading from a variety of sources, an inspirational talk, a demonstration of survival evidence through mediumship, and a healing prayer and hands-on spiritual healing. Each week the church has a variety of speakers and mediums presenting different points of view. The philosophy generally expresses some aspect of our seven principles, and is meant to be uplifting and inspiring.
Outside of Sunday services, the church offers events such as mediumship demonstrations and one-on-one readings, as well as opportunities for participants to develop their own mediumship and spiritual healing abilities through workshops and classes. Mediumship Development Circles are on-going weekly meetings which teach various forms of mediumship, and require commitment and dedication. For information about events and classes, please check the Community Support page.