Tag Archives: Faith

Reflections on Life, Faith, and Love Beyond This World – The Latest from Rob Harvey

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Several new articles have been published on Rob Harvey’s website exploring some of the most common questions people ask about life, death, and the spiritual world. These topics often arise during readings, conversations with families, and spiritual meetings where people are searching for understanding about what happens beyond this life.

While each article explores a different subject, they are all connected by one central theme — love, understanding, and the journey of the soul.

Are Funerals Only for the Living?

One of the most frequently asked questions is whether funerals are simply for those left behind, or whether they also have meaning for the person who has passed.

From Rob Harvey’s experience conducting funeral services, funerals can be important for both the living and the departed. When someone dies, they leave their physical body but may still remain aware of their surroundings for a short time.

The atmosphere of a funeral can make a real difference. When people gather with open minds, celebrating the life of their loved one and sending love, it can help the person who has passed as they begin their transition to the next world.

This perspective offers a comforting reminder that funerals are not only about grief — they can also be moments of connection, love, and support for the soul continuing its journey.

You can read the full article here:
https://robharveylifeafterdeath.co.uk/2026/03/13/are-funerals-for-the-living-or-the-departed/

Is Going to Church Necessary?

Another question that many people ask is whether attending church is necessary for living a good life or preparing for what comes after death.

Rob Harvey explains that while churches can be beautiful places for prayer and reflection, the most important thing is not simply attending church, but how we live our lives and treat the people around us.

Through many spiritual readings, Rob has observed that those who led kind and compassionate lives often find it easier to connect with loved ones after passing. What truly matters is the love we show to others, the help we offer, and the kindness we share.

In the end, faith and spirituality are not about appearances or rituals, but about the genuine goodness we bring into the world.

Read more here:
https://robharveylifeafterdeath.co.uk/2026/03/13/do-you-need-to-go-to-church/

A Message of Love from the Spirit World

During one spiritual meeting, a powerful message came through focusing entirely on the importance of love.

The message described love as the force that connects everything — this world, the spirit world, and the souls who move between them. It reminded those present that love can be seen in everyday life, from the beauty of nature to the bond between families.

According to the message, love does more than comfort us. It attracts more love, brings people together, and even allows loved ones in the spirit world to draw closer.

It also suggested that gatherings where people come together with kindness and intention can create powerful moments where the spiritual and physical worlds connect through love.

You can read the full message here:
https://robharveylifeafterdeath.co.uk/2026/03/13/a-message-about-love-from-the-spirit-world/

A Shared Message

Although each of these articles explores a different topic — funerals, faith, and spiritual messages — they all point toward the same deeper understanding.

Life is about how we love, how we help others, and how we grow as individuals.

Whether we are celebrating someone’s life at a funeral, questioning the role of religion, or listening to messages from the spirit world, the same truth continues to appear:

Love is at the centre of everything.

To explore these ideas in more depth, visit Rob Harvey’s website and read the full articles linked above.

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Photo credit Colin Rees. Creative Flower Photography

We move into March, that crazy, unpredictable month of March winds and ever-changing weather. What’s new? Meteorological spring began yesterday, on the 1st, St David’s Day, as Ken reminded me at church, though the spring (Vernal) equinox is not until the 20th this year.

It is absolutely gorgeous in this neck of the woods right now. So much is beginning to bloom, and even some early cherry blossoms are already out. The weather may be a little “choppy” for a while, but it will grow warmer and calmer, at least according to the 17th-century expression, “In like a lion, out like a lamb.” Let’s hold fast to that.

Yesterday we enjoyed our special Healing Service in Chawton. It was an absolutely beautiful evening of prayers and readings, followed by the gentle outpouring of healing love from above, led by our President, Rob Harvey. Thank you, everyone.

The Spiritual energies were so high that, whether healer or healee, we were all bathed in love and goodness. I trust everyone slept well afterwards. We usually take a group picture, but we were so busy fellowshipping and enjoying Carole’s cake that we completely forgot!

Special thanks to our healers:

Julie Sheraman Searle, Steve Lidgett Williams, Rob Harvey, Barbara Matthews, Ken Matthews, Jane Trillaud, Chris Elliot, Aimee Andrews, and Alison Keogh.

Thank you also to Sue and Carole for hospitality, Julie and Lisa for the music, and of course to all who helped set up, break down, and wash up. Always so appreciated.

Prayer of the Week

Please pray for Peace in our world. As more conflict erupts, so many innocent lives remain in peril.

Calendar up later.

Have a beautiful week. Let us be thankful for all that we have, for what we have is somebody else’s dream.

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The blue skies are teasing us between the endless downpours, but at least we know that the new season is not far away. You know that is a reality when the crocuses, as usual, beat the ‘daffs’ into bloom and we are in a countdown to the springtime. What a past few days we have had, with such weather changes, and yet these colourful, bulbs have burst into flower all over the place.

Crocuses have been around and beloved for centuries, hence the many beautiful garden hybrids. In Greek mythology there are several stories associated with them. One tells of Crocus, a young man accidentally killed by a discus. After such tragedy, he was transformed into a flower by the god Hermes, and ever since the crocus has symbolised love and joy.

In the Bible, the humble crocus is mentioned in the Book of Isaiah, signifying new hope, rejuvenation, and restoration in the most difficult of circumstances. Something to hang our hats on as we near the start of Lent, a season within the greater Christian Church encouraging reflection and turning inward, leading us toward Easter

What a weekend we have had!

Saturday was our Valentine’s Coffee Morning, a wonderful time of readings, healing, tasty baked goods, coffee, tea, and warm conversation. In all, there were over fifty readings, and at least twenty-one people received healing. We thank all our visiting mediums: Irene Hall, Em Dowsing, Eve Cowell, Bob Baker, and Lorraine Francois. We also thank our in-house readers, our healers, and everyone who helped organise and help with the smooth running of the morning. The baked goods were, as always, such a delight, and so thank you to our hospitality team.

Right on the heels of that, John Morrow visited our little church on Sunday evening, and we shared a truly lovely time. Thank you, John, for your messages and your thoughts. The evening was chaired beautifully by our own Sarah Dorgan. Thank you, Sarah. Thanks as ever to hospitality, to the readers, the music team, the healers, and all those who set up and cleared away.

PRAYER OF THE WEEK

Please send a tidal wave of love and peace to the whole world.

Calendar to follow later.

Have a beautiful week, and take time to ponder.

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Rain, rain, go away, come back another day! Happy February, everyone! It’s encouraging to see signs that spring is on the way. This little fella, a Palmate newt, is making his journey to a moorland pond to begin the breeding season.

He’s often confused with the Smooth newt, but there are a few differences to look out for: notably the fine filament at the tip of his tail and his webbed back feet. He feeds on worms, slugs, and insect larvae, but he also has to watch out for his own predators. Foxes, badgers, and even grass snakes might all see him as a tasty snack.

This amazing little fella can regrow a limb if need be, and move effortlessly between land and water. His spiritual symbolism is one of transformation, resilience, and gentle magic.

Despite yet another downpour, many braved the weather to make it to Chawton last night. The evening was led by our President, Rob Harvey, and chaired by the ever-humorous Steve Lidgett Williams, whilst Rob offered insight into clairvoyance, explaining both its challenges and how it works from both sides.

Rob brought some messages, after which the Fledglings, supported by the more experienced, took to the floor. Quite a number of messages were delivered, with the newer mediums explaining how they were perceiving the information. It was an evening enjoyed by all.

We also enjoyed beautiful readings and prayers, along with some lovely hymns, followed of course by cake and healing. Our thanks go to the readers and to Carole and Chris for their hospitality and to Julie for our music. We are so glad for the many who make light work of set up and break down as well as wash up.

We are also very grateful to the healers and delighted to see our newer healers training alongside those more experienced. I suspect quite a few people went home to enjoy a very good night’s sleep!

PRAYER OF THE WEEK

How can we not think of the homeless with this endless rain and cold snaps of weather? Please pray for them that resources are coming quickly. May they be seen and included within our communities. We must extend compassion in all possible ways.

Calendar up next.

Have a beautiful week. It is sunny above the clouds!

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In the dank of January, there seems to be very little life around. On my walk through the woodlands, it was quiet, with an occasional squirrel running across the path. However, as I returned to my garden, I saw our ultimate garden birds suddenly dancing in abundance again. Our British Blue Tit, flitting here and flitting there, is with us year-round. We kind of take them for granted. Even in the darkest days, these small ones are close by, and never miss a beat when crumbled suet balls are out on the bird table.

They seem to be happy, energetic souls who gather together. Their plumage is bright with yellow breasts and bright blue on the head, wings, and tail, and a black stripe on their bib. They will already be looking for a place to nest, which is probably why there is sudden activity. Tough times are ahead, as raising the young when they come is no walk in the park, and many fledglings die from starvation. They sing their hearts out, though with their high-pitched song, which is always welcome on some of the more dreary January days.

We sang our hearts out last night in song when we had one of our own, Virginia Gordon, take the podium in Chawton. Virginia brought completely inspired thoughts to give us pause. Thoughts that we could hold onto, and then went on to bring many lovely messages. Thank you so much, Virginia!! We love our Family Nights!! Alison Keogh chaired the proceedings.

We thank Julie for running music, Sue and Carole for hospitality, with a delicious coffee cake for everyone to enjoy. Thank you, of course, to our readers, and prayer people, and our healers standing by afterwards. The ‘washer-uppers ‘ and those who set up and break down are always appreciated, and we thank them.

Prayer of the week.

Please pray for a wave of healing to heal the intense fear in this world. Fear sometimes brings on such bad behaviour in the way of dominance, violence, lack, and depravity. It also destroys our quality of life when we live fearfully and keeps us in the shadows, unable to live fully.

Calendar will be up soon.

Have a beautiful week, and relish the moments. They’re golden.

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The New Year has brought bare trees, and the weather has been quite cold, with only endless rain to follow. If there is a pause, we look for something of colour in our natural landscape. Thank goodness for the evergreens. Some plants are blooming already, though. One in particular gives hope for the birds and animals in way of food during the cold, bleak days. Witch Hazel is in bloom with its spindly petals and either orange, yellow, or red colouring. Her name came from wych, an old English word for bend, as her flexible branches were used as water diviners.

She was imported from America in the 1700s, and appears in our woodlands and gardens blooming from December through to March, and did I mention she is healing? Wych hazel was certainly known during my youth, as she is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and a great antioxidant. Like essential oils, the tonic is extracted by steam distillation of the twigs and leaves. Gardeners love her. She is fragrant and gives us just that burst of colour to lift the spirit when all else is looking grey.

We gathered in Chawton last night for our first in-person gathering of the New Year. We were so glad to welcome Bob Baker!! We had a night of lifted spirits. Bob shared some lovely thoughts and then went on to bring some equally lovely messages. Thank you so much, Bob. What a lovely evening!! Our own Chris Shore chaired the evening proceedings beautifully. Thank you!

We thank those who offered prayers and readings. They always give us pause. Thank you to Lisa for running music. Thank you, Sue and Nerina, for helping with hospitality. Thank you to our healers on hand after the service. And as always, the set-up and breakdown are done diligently every evening we gather. Thank you.

Prayer of the week

Please pray for a calming of all the chaos in this world and a restoration of Peace.

Calendar up later.

Have a beautiful week, and don’t forget the bird seed!!

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We gathered last night on the longest night of the year, on our Winter Solstice, for our Christmas Divine Service in Chawton. It was a beautiful service of readings, prayers, the singing of carols, and the lighting of the Advent candle for LOVE by Malcolm. We also had special readings, which were beautiful.

We thanked many people last night for their service and help throughout this year. Sue and Carole both received bouquets for their wonderful hospitality and baking. They have taken things to a whole other level. This was so well deserved. We have been spoilt!

We thank Graeme, who sets up the chairs and generally helps with the setup for our gatherings and also takes our offerings. Of course, Julie and Lisa both run our music. Thank you so much. We thank Nerina, who does so much behind the scenes with membership and many other things. We also thank Alison for booking our mediums and managing our social media. We thank Chris Elliot for working as our Treasurer, and both Steve Lidett Williams and Nerina Dannat for their roles of Vice Presidents.

We thank the chair rotation team also, as they lead proceedings and help keep us in line. We thank our wonderful healers, who were on hand again last night to help. Thank you to our committee members, who are all actively involved in the smooth-running of this church. We cannot forget to say a huge thank you to our visiting mediums. Their dedication to working with spirit helps so many. We are so glad to welcome them to our little church, and we thank our President, Rob Harvey, who runs and oversees our church and the events connected. Rob also runs two clairvoyant/healing circles in addition.

We are a family, a Spiritual family, imperfect but passionate about our community and the community beyond.

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Prayer of the week.

Please pray with gratitude for those with lighter bodies, the angels, the helpers, and the healers. They understand our plight. They are our champions. We understand they work tirelessly to help us along our path, while not interfering with our gift of freewill. May they be blessed for all that they do.

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This Christmas will see many with their families, but some alone. Some with the sting of fresh loss, some further along that path. Some with illness, worry, and loneliness. Many in this world are suffering right now. Many other kinds in this world also suffer along with us. This experience is not always for the faint-hearted, yet we have a gift, a boy child who brings us goodness, light, understanding, and healing. May we focus on the very real reason for this season of joy. So, among the tinsel and mince pies, pause and remember your loved ones are closer than you think, and all is well, so allow your heart to be filled with Love from Above. We are on a journey together. Alton Christian Spiritualist Church wishes you a Happy and blessed Christmas of Joy and Love, and a Peaceful and very Hopeful and Happy New Year

We will reconvene on Wednesday, 7th January, on Zoom, and in Chawton on the 11th January.

Watch our calendar.

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Sorting out my Christmas decorations, I came across a faux sprig of mistletoe. Associated with Christmastime, this parasitic but evergreen plant that grows on some deciduous host trees has a rich tradition of folklore and myth, where it was often thought to represent Peace and Love, whether among the Romans, the Druids, or the Norse ancient culture.

The name Mistletoe actually derives from the Anglo-Saxon phrase ‘ Dung on a Twig.’ Delightful. This is no doubt the way in which the seeds are spread by birds eating those juicy, waxy, white berries. In this era, she is mainly known for the tradition of kissing beneath her boughs. This tradition was started in the Victorian age, when every time a couple kissed beneath her, a white berry was plucked, but when the berries were gone, they were gone, and you were definitely out of luck. She is toxic to pets and plants, but she is a blessing to birds, deer, squirrels, and even butterflies in the depths of winter.

Spencer Rose was in the house Sunday night, and we had an amazing evening as we celebrated the start of Advent. We were joined by some from Basingstoke Spiritualist Church, and the cross-pollination felt wonderful.

Spencer’s address was so inspiring, and the energy was off the charts. He went on to bring simply wonderful messages to some. Thank you, Spencer, for your laughter and spirit. What a lovely evening! We thank Chris Elliot for chairing our evening brilliantly, as well as those who gave beautiful readings and prayers.

Ken spoke about the Advent candles, and Sue came up and lit our first one for Hope. Thank you, Sue, also for the hospitality. Lisa worked on our music, and our healers stood by after the service. The setup, breakdown, and washing up are always taken care of by our family in record time. Thank you!

Prayer of the week

Please pray for all the victims of the terrible floods in Asia. We think of our own kind, but also the animals and all life affected. May help come and life be restored.

Calendar up next.

Slow down amid the decorations and shopping, and take a moment.

‘Tis the season for a reason.

Have a beautiful week!

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Our Autumn weather is definitely keeping us guessing.  One minute, bright blue skies and sunshine illuminate all those colours, and then heavy rain and large puddles.  The ducks will be happy in any case.  The migratory ducks have come in from parts of Europe for our milder climate at this time.  Teals, Pintails, Shovelers, and more make the UK their winter home.

The relatives of our modern ducks existed at the time of some dinosaurs, approximately 66 million years ago, towards the end of the Cretaceous period.  They survived the mass extinction around this time and continued to evolve into our modern-day ducks. Those vibrant colours of most males dull down like the females out of breeding season, so they are well camouflaged, but then return to catch the ladies’ eyes when the need arises.

And did you know that our modern ‘quackers’ can sleep with one eye open and switch half of the brain off, and so a flock can have an early alarm system, of one eyed sleeping ducks!  In any case, there is something quite lovely about the sight and sound of wing flapping, bottom waddling, quacking ducks. They definitely lift the spirits.

We felt our spirits lift yesterday at our In House Divine Service.  Rob Harvey led an evening of ‘Creating a Circle Experience’ within the church.  A ‘Circle’ is a clairvoyant, prayerful healing group who are sensing and developing spiritual gifts.  Rob explained about ‘Circle’ and about the kinds of experiences encountered.

Working with Spirit, the atmosphere and energy of the room shifted, so that there was an opportunity for our Family to sense at a deeper level.  There was also a demonstration of healing and Rob and some who sat in Circle, shared what they were sensing.  It was a very special evening.  Thank you Rob for leading this.

We thank our beautiful readers and prayer people. (Nerina just  ‘slayed’ us with her closing prayer.)  We thank Sue for hospitality, Lisa for music, and Carole for her baking talent.  We of course thank our healers standing by after the service.  Thank you to all those who set up, break down and wash up.

Prayer of the week.

Please pray for Jamaica.  On so many levels they are all suffering. May they receive the help and assistance they need quickly.

Calendar up tomorrow.

Have a beautiful week! 

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We enjoyed an extra hour on Sunday, as we ‘fell back’ and gained a little more shut-eye, and welcomed the wintertime officially. The days will naturally be shortening and the nights lengthening all the way to Yule on the 21st December.

Daylight Saving Time was proposed as far back as 1907 and was finally implemented on May 21st, 1916, to create later sunsets in the summer and earlier sunrises in the winter. During the Second World War, there was even double summertime, when the time changed by two hours to really help the war effort in terms of productivity.

Of course, there are ramifications and effects from everything we do. The wild animals are also affected, having to contend with more traffic in the wintertime at dusk, and there is always a spike in accidents and animal fatalities. Awareness and extra caution are needed during the darker evenings, when unsuspecting animals are out and about, and sometimes at great risk near busy roads. Let us take note.

Last night was a little chilly as we headed into Chawton, but we were looking forward to welcoming two mediums to our Divine Service. Lorraine Francois and Alan Salmon came to visit. Alan shared an inspired address about his journey, and they both brought some lovely messages for us, along with much laughter. Thank you so much. Our own Sarah Dorgan chaired the evening brilliantly. A wonderful evening for everyone to enjoy!

We thank the family for the lovely readings and prayers. Carole’s chocolate cake was a hit. No surprise there. Thank you, Chris, for the hospitality, Julie, for the music. Thanks to our healers. And for those who set up, break down, and wash up every single week.

Prayer of the week

Please pray for those all over this world who are lost and in despair.

Pray that they might find the way back to joy, hope, and healing.

Calendar up next.

Have a beautiful week.

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