The Legacy of Healing Gatherings

The First United Spiritualist Church of Vancouver has stood as a place of healing, learning, and connection with Spirit for more than a century — 107 years and counting.

Founded on June 21, 1918, by a small group of visionaries — Charles Green, Minnie Long, Walter Pease, Margaret Ross, and Thomas McCallum — the Vancouver Society of Spiritualism was born out of a longing for comfort and proof of life after death in the difficult years following war and pandemic. Guided by the Seven Principles of Spiritualism, their message was simple and strong: the soul survives, love endures, and Spirit is near.

Our story, however, begins even earlier — in Hydesville, New York, 1848, where the Fox Sisters first demonstrated that communication with Spirit is real. Their discovery sparked a movement that spread across continents and generations, eventually finding its way to Vancouver’s west coast, where open hearts were ready to listen.

In 1936, a bright white chapel was built at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Burnaby — the Chapel of Peace. It stood as a serene bridge between the living and the departed, serving as both a funeral chapel and a place for spiritual reflection. In 1955, the Anglican Diocese purchased and relocated the building to its present home on Kincaid Street, renaming it St. Columba’s Anglican Church.

For 15 years, it served the Anglican community, but its Spiritualist roots remained close to the surface. When the First United Spiritualist Church acquired it in 1971, under the guidance of Rev. Alice Wilmot and George H. Whitney, the chapel returned to its original calling — a place of healing, learning, and communion with Spirit. The purple crosses still shining through its windows today remind us of that sacred passage of time and are preserved as part of the chapel’s heritage designation.  Although its name originates in Vancouver, The Chapel is nestled in the heart of Burnaby, near Deer Lake Park.

Now, more than a century since our founding, the church continues to grow and thrive. What began as a circle of eight faithful members has blossomed into a vibrant community of mediums, healers, teachers, and seekers who gather weekly to sing, study, meditate, and demonstrate mediumship on our beloved platform.

Here, the Seven Principles are not just words; they are lived.

They connect us to one another, to Spirit, and to the timeless truth that life continues, love endures, and healing never ends.

At First United Spiritualist Church (FUSC), we embrace Spiritualism, while respecting other spiritual beliefs and practices. Our platform is open to voices from many traditions — leaders, healers, and teachers from across faiths and philosophies.  Please, join us for a Sunday service.

With love and light,

First United Spiritualist Church