History of the JCPF

In the two years preceding the inaugural meeting 14th May 1967 Tony Ashenden had begun to demonstrate his psychic gifts on Spiritualist Public platforms, most notably that of St Margaret's Christian Spiritualist Church in North End, Portsmouth. His teacher Len Burden introduced him to Margaret Homer the President of the church -this is the same Mrs Homer who was jailed in the late forties for putting on the materialisation séances at which the physical medium Helen Duncan was arrested and put on trial in 1944.

Tony soon developed a following which resulted in him teaching at Len Burden's house. All the teaching during that period was undertaken in trance. As a result a small number of pupils were present at the inaugural address by Joseph Carey. Thereafter they began to hold healing sessions at the home of Ron Pomroy and followed these with psychic & spiritual development groups. At that time the administration was small and consisted of Ellen Watts as the treasurer and Nicola Bentley as the Secretary and Tony as the President. Len Burden did not want to hold any office but continued to be the mainstay of psychic and spiritual support for many years thereafter.

During 1968 it was realised that some kind of formal structure would be necessary if the ideas implicit in Joseph Carey's inaugural address were to be developed. Since we desired to be a democratic society it was decided that the Foundation rules and objectives be subject to the scrutiny of the Charity Commission. The final draft was approved in June 1971 by the Commissioners as meeting the requirements of a charity. A special meeting was convened in October 1971 and these rules accepted as the J.C.P.F. Constitution. In 1977 full charitable status was achieved.

In February 1979 the J.C.P.F. moved into its first permanent premises, after 12 years of rented rooms, private houses (even a converted coal cellar!) and public halls. During these formative years with the guidance from Len Burden and Joseph Carey, Psychic Healing and Psychic Education activities were developed. A research activity was also set up to foster interest in the developing relationship of psychic and spiritual practice and the science of material understanding. Public meetings were held to demonstrate mediumship and lecture on the science and philosophy of Spiritualism.
The objects of the Foundation were described to allow freedom of interpretation of Spiritualism. It is accepted as an expression of psychic and spiritual development and as a world wide movement of persons dedicated to the study and enfoldment of man's latent possibilities as a spiritual being incarnate. Whilst the western movement of Modern Spiritualism is a significant influence, the teachings developed in the Foundation are more of a fundamentalist nature than is currently the practice of the religion of Modern Spiritualism. The psychic and spiritual relationship between mortal and communicators of the Spirit is central to the philosophy of education and practice.

These first permanent premises were Garfield Hall in North End, Portsmouth. Development courses were well attended and service held regularly. We also undertook a 30 mile charity walk amongst other activities that started to make the JCPF known outside of Portsmouth. In the mid eighties the house adjoining the hall came up for sale and it was agreed we should purchase it. This proved to be a massive undertaking -the house being on three levels, however, with great enthusiasm members now over 50 in number all took part in the renovations. Completed the facility allowed us to increase on our activities and to give a home to the MAAT society who taught Astrology and Kabala.

Many memorable meetings were held there, significantly one physical séance in which the medium Len Burden materialised roses for many in the congregation at that time. It was in the eighties that Tony invited a Mrs Eunice Eggerman on a visit to the United Kingdom to give a talk and slide show to the public on the work of the Philippine Healers. A phenomenon of healing that was making news at that time. A research group was formed and electronic voice phenomena (EVP) recorded voices from the ether.

In the late nineties a land development investment group approached us and offered to buy the premises. We agreed and for a couple of years conducted our activities again in public halls and private homes before purchasing the Mitre Hotel in Kent road, Portsea, Portsmouth.

Unlike our self help renovation programme in the eighties we employed contractors to renovate the property. It was decided to increase our activities by taking on alternative therapy and to that end built in therapy rooms and installed a floatation chamber. Our course activities and development groups, healing clinics and Sunday service events continued alongside providing for acupuncture, hypnotherapy, reflexology, floating, aromatherapy and counselling.

During this period the committees were supplemented by an administration team headed by Tony Ashenden who managed the centre of a day to day basis. Much good work was done during this occupation and we began to play a larger part in national healing organisation affairs. However running the charity and the centre took a great deal of effort and it was eventually decided to sell the property. After selling the JCPF again rented halls and used private homes to conduct its activities before eventually leasing the present premises in 42, Kingston road, North End, Portsmouth.

We continue to provide a range of courses and workshops in psychic & spiritual development, Astrology and Tarot. Healing clinics are held weekly in Petersfield and in Portsmouth. Public demonstrations are also regularly held.

In 2007 it was agreed to launch an interactive website and develop communications with interested patrons and members on a national scale. This website is the first level of that endeavour and will continue to develop in the future.