Spiritualist not welcome at Norwich church

Peter WalshA medium has been forced to try and find another venue for a forthcoming show after being refused permission to hold the event at a Norwich church hall - despite having booked the same venue last year.Peter Walsh

A medium has been forced to try and find another venue for a forthcoming show after being refused permission to hold the event at a Norwich church hall - despite having booked the same venue last year.

Dominic Zenden, 47, from Old Catton, who has been a spiritualist medium for more than 25 years and has published books on the paranormal, had been hoping to hold an spiritualist evening at Christ Church hall on Magdalen Road.

But Mr Zenden has been told he cannot hold the event, which was due to take place at the hall early next month, and must now look for a new venue.

He said: 'I rang up and asked if I could book the room for an evening. Everything was fine until I said I was a psychic medium. They said sorry, you can't use the room because you're a spiritualist.'

Mr Zenden, who has just finished working on a project with popular ghost-hunter Derek Acorah, said he was surprised at being refused permission because he had used the same venue for a show there last year.

He said: 'I'm surprised and feel a little bit upset. I've worked in lots of venues in Norwich over the years and never had any problems with anyone discriminating against me for being a medium.

'I can understand people's viewpoints but to stop someone using a hall because of their beliefs seems a little antiquated. The whole idea of a community hall is that you offer a wide range of services. Last time we had about 60 people turn up.'

The Reverend Keith Crocker, vicar of Christ Church, said the church council had drawn up a list of terms and conditions for events which could be put on at religious venues.

He said: 'It's very broad and we accept a wide cross section of the community to use the church as long as they are not doing anything against the Christian faith. We would regard a spiritualist medium as being against the Christian faith.'

With the church unlikely to have a change of heart, Mr Zenden will now have to find someone else willing to host the event which he hopes will still take place in the first week of April.

He said: 'If anyone has a hall they would like to offer or would like me to come and perform I would be more than happy to talk to them.'

If you can help Mr Zenden with a venue email him at dominic@dominiczenden.com

Have you got evidence of ghostly goings on where you live? Call reporter Peter Walsh on 01603 772436 or email peter.walsh@archant.co.uk