the official website of
promoting national spiritualism,
psychic studies, healing & benevolence
PROmoting spiritualism, education and development, and providing SUPPORT TO those withIN THE SPIRITUALIST COMMUNITY
Established in 1989 in memory of its namesake, the late Winifred Gandine-Stanton, the WGST is a Trust and Registered Charity (Charity No. 801703) whose purpose is to promote National Spiritualism in accordance with the Seven Principles, Psychic Studies, Spiritual education and development, and to provide support to those that may be in need.
We do this by providing direct aid to organisations and churches, as well as helping to fund and support a range of Spiritualist and psychic education and training programmes. We also give direct assistance and donations to Spiritualists, and those who have contributed to the Spiritualist community, who may be in benevolent and financial need.
our next education OPPORTUNITY:
‘Uniting Energies – The mechanics of Mediumship: Blending Science with Spirit’
Friday 7th – Sunday 9th November 2025 – Sedgebrook Hall, Northampon, NN6 8BD
Every year, WGST provides subsidised education courses and opportunities for Spiritualist development and training. Above you will find details of our next course.
Application deadline – Monday 15th September 2025.
Apply…
HOW WE PROVIDE SUPPORT…
Applications for direct grants & support
Subsidised educational opportunities
Benevolent and financial aid donations
Church upkeep & maintenance support
Digital outreach and development
Maintaining relations with those we have helped
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRUST? GET IN TOUCH....
Please Note – this contact box is for the purposes of general enquiries only.
To email the Clerk directly, please email clerk@wgstrust.org.
For queries or correspondence regarding our education programme or courses, including feedback, please email education@wgstrust.org.
For funding applications, please SEE BELOW...
APPLY FOR SUPPORT
AS AN INDIVIDUAL
We accept and consider applications from individuals who are Spiritualists or have otherwise been active in, or made a contribution to, the Spiritualist community. We do not have a set criteria for what kind of applications will be considered, but this is most commonly granted to individuals who may be in need of financial or benevolent aid, going through difficult personal circumstances, to pursue Spiritualist-oriented development and other such reasons.
Please note – we are happy to accept applications for funding/benevolence on behalf of others who you feel may need it.
CLICK HERE TO
APPLY
(INDIVIDUAL)
AS A CHURCH, group or ORGANISATION
Applications for churches and spiritualist groups and organisations will be considered for a variety of reasons and needs.
In the past this has included, but not been limited to, essential repairs, maintenance and upgrades to church buildings and infrastructure, to help churches and groups going through financial hardship to meet essential costs, and for equipment and inventory acquisition.
Please note – when applying as a church, group or organisation, we will usually require copies of relevant accounts and bookkeeping and, where relevant for services and products, a cross-section of quotes for the requested work/service/item.
CLICK HERE TO
APPLY
(ORGANISATION)
FOR DIGITAL OUTREACH & DEVELOPMENT
In 2023, we will be launching our Digital Outreach & Development Programme, a platform to provide access to professional multimedia, filming, photography and key digital skills to churches, individuals and organisations in the spiritualist community.
We will accept applications to use the Trust’s equipment, facilities and expertise for purposes which include promotional photography & videography, graphic, digital and web design, social media development and management and more.
CLICK HERE TO
APPLY
(outreach)
THE WGST TEAM
Sandra Fellows
Chairman
Robert Dangerfield
Treasurer
Teresa George
Trustee
Kyle Pedley
Clerk
about us
THE WGST story
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TRUST
THE LATE WINIFRED GANDINE-STANTON RAN THE ‘TUNBRIDGE WELLS PSYCHIC STUDIES’ GROUP FROM HER OWN SITTING ROOM.
A passionate and dedicated lady, Winifred declared herself as ‘not Churchified’, with a keen interest of hers being in scientific psychic studies. Having said this, her Studies Group was affiliated to the SNU – the Spiritualists’ Natonal Union – and Winifred herself openly embraced the Seven Principles of Modern Spiritualism.
She was, in her time, great friends with acclaimed medium Gordon Higginson, and she would, on occasion, be invited to open the garden parties held at Stansted Hall (the SNU’s headquarters), usually bedecked with a huge hat adorned with fruits and flowers!
A natural and gifted teacher, Winifred owned a private school and was its headmistress. Her affinity for guiding and educating others carried through to her work for Spirit.
She eventually decided upon establishing a charity, whose prime objective would be the promotion of Spiritualism in accordance with the Seven Principles, with a secondary objective being the promotion of Psychic Studies; something always of great importance to her. Later objectives that would be added to the Trust’s mission would include the promotion of Healing, as well as a provision to help Spiritualists, individuals and bodies in need.
The sale of Winifred’s two properties after her passing into Spirit formed the basis of her assets placed in Trust, and it has been the privilege and joy of several Treasurers and Boards of Trustees over the ensuing years to oversee and grow these funds, all in the interest of undertaking and fulfilling the Trust’s objectives.
Mindfully and responsibly upholding Winifred’s ideals, the Trust carefully considers all and any applications for funding, and have been thrilled to support a number of Spiritualists, churches and more over the years, whilst also continuing Winifred’s pioneering enthusiasm for education, development and psychic studies.
testimonials
“At a time of great personal distress and hardship, receiving a diagnosis of cancer in our young family, the Winifred Gandine-Stanton Trust reached out to help and support us. Their incredible kindness and generosity helped so much during a terrible time, and was a beautiful example of the important work Spiritualists can do both in this life and the one beyond.”
– Mrs Winter
“I would like to say thank you for the wonderful kindness of the Winifred Gandine-Stanton Trust. It came at a good time to pick me up after coming out of hospital.”
– Mrs Jones DSNU
& Mr Jones OSNU
“The very generous donation and support of the Trust allowed us to cover the costs of vital repair works on our church. After a very poor year for us financially because of church closure and the cancellation of all fund raising events owing to the pandemic, the large costs involved would have presented extreme difficulties for us. The committee would like to thank the Trust very much for their generosity.”
– Hillsborough Spiritualist Church
WHAT ARE THE ‘SEVEN PRINCIPLES’?
The Seven Principles are the basis on which Modern National Spiritualism is formed and observed. They provide a roadmap and steer for Spiritualists, and were first given by the mediumship and teachings of Emma Hardinge Britten (pictured).
Click on the Principles below for more information on each.
The Fatherhood of God
By a study of nature, that is, by trying to understand the laws of cause and effect, which govern all that is happening around us, we recognise that there is a creative force in the universe.
This force, or energy, not only created the whole universe but life itself in its many forms and is continuing to create today, creating, not from nothing, but of itself, and the effects of this eternal creation can be seen around us today, even in the farthest reaches of outer space, as has been shown in its astounding grandeur by the remarkable photographs taken through the medium of the Hubble telescope.
This leads us to acknowledge that God, the Creative Force, manifests directly or indirectly in all things. We know this power as God and, as we are a part of the life created by God, we acknowledge God as our Father.
The Brotherhood of Man
Because we all come from the same universal life source we are, in effect, one large family. This means that all mankind is part of a brotherhood.
A brotherhood is a community for mutual support and comfort; we are all members of the same divine family. We have to understand the needs of other individuals in order to assist them as part of our service to each other. As we learn to give, so must we also learn to receive, thereby achieving the necessary balance for our lives.
The Communion of Spirits and the Ministry of Angels
Many Spiritualists consider this to be the key Principle.
All religions believe in life after death, but only Spiritualism shows it is true by demonstrating that communication with departed spirits can, and does, take place.
Spiritualist churches and centres provide many of the venues where communication, through mediumship, is possible and many loved relatives and friends take advantage of this opportunity to continue to show an interest in our welfare and us.
The Continuous Existence of the Human Soul
Matter and energy cannot be created or destroyed. This is an old scientific axiom which research continues to confirm.
If we accept this, and there is no reason why we should not, we need to know what happens when the present form of energy reaches the end of its viability.
The answer is, simply, that it changes its manifestation. Spirit is energy and is therefore indestructible. On the death of the physical body, the spirit continues as an integral part of a world which interpenetrates our world in different dimensions: this other world is referred to as the spirit world.
In spirit life we have a spirit body that is a replica of our earthly body but it is a much finer form. We are the same individuals in every way, with the same personalities and characteristics, and we change only by progression, or otherwise, as a result of our own efforts.
Personal Responsibility
This Principle is the one which places responsibility for wrongful thoughts and deeds where it belongs, with the individual.
It is the acceptance of responsibility for every aspect of our lives, and the use to which we put our lives depends entirely upon ourselves. It is not possible for any other person or outside influence to interfere with our spiritual development, unless we are willing to allow this.
As we are given freedom of choice (free will), so too are we given the ability to recognise what is right and wrong for our own spirituality. We are personally responsible for all our words, deeds and thoughts.
Compensation and Retribution Hereafter for all the Good and Evil Deeds done on Earth
As with all other Principles, natural laws apply; this one echoes the Law of cause and effect (‘what goes around, comes around’). One cannot be cruel and vindictive towards others and expect love and popularity in return.
It should be understood that the compensatory or retributive effects of this law operate now, on earth: they do not wait until we begin to live our lives in the spirit world. With this understanding we can try to put right wrongs that we know we have done before we pass from this life.
Eternal Progress Open to every Human Soul
In most humans there exists the desire for progress, and to every human soul belongs the power to advance in wisdom and love. All who desire to tread the path that leads to spiritual wisdom and understanding are able to do so.
The rate of progress is directly proportional to the desire for mental and spiritual understanding. It is the realisation that our soul is a part of eternity and the road to progress is open any time we choose to walk it that can help us come to terms with the challenges of this world.
introducing our
digital outreach programme
CONTEMPORARY MEDIA MANAGEMENT
PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL MEDIA PRODUCTION & DIGITAL KEY SKILLS FOR THE SPIRITUALIST COMMUNITY.
In 2023, the Winifred Gandine-Stanton Trust, with support and additional equipment courtesy of MPB and the Spiritual Truth Foundation, are proud to launch our Digital Outreach Programme – a brand new initiative, recognising both the important of high-quality audiovisual content in this digital age, as well as the difficulty of access to/expertise in such things that many churches, organisations and spiritualists face.
The programme will provide to access to broadcast-quality filming, photography, editing and sound recording equipment for those who may wish to improve their online presence and professional appearance in this digital age, as well as expertise and guidance from professionally trained personnel.
Please see below for a breakdown on what services are offered, and CLICK HERE to make an application to the programme when it opens in 2023.
WHAT DOES THE DIGITAL OUTREACH PROGRAMME OFFER?
The programme has been designed to provide targeted support to churches, individuals and organisations within the Spiritualist community, and provide them with access to equipment, expertise and media production that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive or inaccessible.
With so much of the community now requiring digital and online content, particularly since COVID, we recognise the importance that having professional, polished photographs, videos and the like can be for mediums, churches and others.
Filming & Post-Production Services
Church promotional videos. Medium showreels and samples of work. Full-length demonstration recording and event preservation. Youtube and social media content. There are a myriad of ways that professionally-recorded content can be vital to the community in our modern, digital age. Our outreach programme offers access to broadcast-quality, ultra high definition video and audio recording, as well as professional editing facilities and expertise, that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive for many in the community.
Photography & Graphic Design
A counterpart to filming and video, the importance of high quality photographs can stem from headshots and professional portraits for mediums and speakers, through to event, demonstration and church photography for social media, websites and more.
Meeting this, the programme will provide access to professional graphic design artists who can create custom posters, event artwork, web pages and other such artwork and content.
Social Media Setup & Design
Social Media has become a hugely important necessity for many within the community over the course of the past decade. As part of the outreach programme, we will consider applications for mediums, churches and organisations who may need help setting up and designing a professional online social media presence that can then be used for events, bookings, correspondence and more.