Believe not Every Spirit: An Introduction to Victorian Spiritualism

The age of the Victorians was one of industrialisation, secularisation and scientific development. It was also the birthplace of Modern Spiritualism, a new religion and belief system that brought the heavens into living rooms and reunited the living with the dead.

As Darwin spoke of evolution and Queen Victoria bathed in grief, mediums delivered messages from the deceased, comforted the bereaved and offered proof of life beyond death. Yet beneath the comforting messages of reconciliation and immortality, was a strange subculture of curious claims and bizarre phenomena. Some mediums commanded spirits to manifest live animals from thin air, began fearsome rivalries and allowed ghosts to walk among the living. Throughout the 19th century, there are accounts of mediums levitating across cities, filling rooms with heavenly flowers, dumping eels on the heads of sitters and even sharing biscuits with spirits.

Dr Kate Cherrell delivers a fascinating and enlightening talk about the history of a much misunderstood movement, including its biggest names, biggest claims, and even bigger critics.