Abstract
Much has been written about constructing memories of place, yet few speak of the difficulties in dealing with lost, partial and fragmented histories of place. We argue that behind the idea of ‘memory of place’ is an assumption that these memories are recoverable and can build a sense of place. Our research has led us to assume the opposite: not just that the fragments of history cannot build a complete memory of place, but that this understanding of memory and place is itself skewed by its reliance on materiality. This paper stems from a project that explores the place of spirituality in everyday life through insights from Spiritualist churches and their congregations. Whilst evidence of Spiritualist locations can be partially obtained through documentary records, a key challenge has been in understanding practices in the context of Spiritualism’s disassociation with materiality and the centrality of Spirit. The paper concludes that retracing Spiritualism’s past, and capturing its contemporary spiritual practices, uncovers a ‘memory of place’ that is not only in constant transience, but that can only be known through Spirit.
Highlights
In 1995, Jay Winter wrote that ‘the [Spiritualist movement] faded into the margins of cultural history [in the 1950s], where it has remained to this day’ (Winter, 1995, p. 77; alluded to in Stringer, 2008)
While the principal aim of the Spiritualism in the Everyday Life of Stoke-on-Trent (SpELS) project was to produce a public exhibition3 in collaboration with the Spiritualist community, this paper focuses on the idea of ‘memory of place’ and the approaches taken to uncover Spiritualist places and practices in
When dealing with partial, fragmented and lost memories, we have found that spirituality recontextualizes memory in ways that detach it from materiality, but not place
Summary
In 1995, Jay Winter wrote that ‘the [Spiritualist movement] faded into the margins of cultural history [in the 1950s], where it has remained to this day’ (Winter, 1995, p. 77; alluded to in Stringer, 2008). For Eve, making these objects regularly and giving them to those in the hospice is a way for her to give back to the community, of‘being a good person’and an expression of her spirituality (Interview with Eve on 11/02/2015) These examples of there not being coincidence, sensing a presence and healing and caring provide an appreciation of how hidden histories are resurfaced in everyday life. As this project attests to, it is through Spiritualism that we glean participants’ appreciation of the natural environment in and around Stoke-on-Trent, an aspect often ignored by the media, yet a vital part of its heritage It is through Spiritualist places of worship along with personal Spiritualist practices that we gain a better understanding of cultural heritage as well as spirituality as a concept that transcends the often times compartmentalized and spatially segregated domain of religion. These places are part of the mundane everyday, bearing witness to the different ways through which spirituality is expressed in the contemporary fabric of Stoke-on-Trent
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
