A NEW centre in Banbridge claiming to receive messages from beyond the grave has been accused of taking advantage of people who are grieving.
The Spirit Centre, which is due to open next week at the Iveagh Movie Studios, will hold an audience with a medium each month during which people will be able to receive messages from loved ones who have died, according to centre manager Simon McCree
dy.
But the town's new service has been strongly criticised by Banbridge Free Presbyterian Minister, Reverend William Whiteside, who said he will oppose the centre.
"I think the whole thing is wrong from start to end," said Rev Whiteside.
"People who have been bereaved will maybe grasp at straws to make some kind of contact with them.
"To play on people's understandable grief and sorrow is simply not acceptable.
"I will be dissuading people from the public and seeking to show people that it's wrong."
Mr McCreedy, who has been a medium for the past eight years after a personal experience when he said he heard a message from his dead grandmother, explained the idea of the service.
He said, "Mediums are people who have developed their abilities enough to be able to form a link with the spirit of a loved one or guide in the spirit world.
"Mediumship is all about soul survival."
The demonstrations in Banbridge will run for one and a half hours on the second Thursday of each month, and Mr McCreedy said he expects a large turnout after many clients requested a centre closer to home.
Responding to criticism of the idea of spiritualism, Simon is adamant the service he is offering people will be popular throughout the district.
"Spiritualism is legally recognised as a religion," he said.
"We are not forcing anyone to come to this. We are simply leaving it open for people to make their own minds up. There is nothing untoward going on here."
