Behind The Gates Of Lily Dale

The Oldest & Largest Spiritualist Community

When it emerged in the 1840’s Spiritualism was the most radical, fastest growing religious system of beliefs to appear in centuries.

While mainstream religions rely on the written word for faith, spirit phenomena continues to give tangible evidence of the philosophy of Spiritualism itself.

Nestled among the glens and groves of western New York, and billed as the World’s Largest Center for the Science Philosophy and Religion of Spiritualism, Lily Dale, America’s epicenter of spiritual mediumship, is now in its 133rd year.

Quirky and picturesque, colourful Victorian gingerbread houses, form the dots which bind the 500 strong spiritualist community, including 41 registered mediums.

Seeking deeply spiritual moments, some are drawn much like a pilgrimage,while  others harbour prior belief -  it’s a tourist draw underpinned with the serious business of survival evidence. Historian Roy  ‘"Lily Dale is to spiritualism as Rome is to Catholicism,"

They want to know about their spirituality; what they can do to upflift their spirituality.

Quotes from interviews with two of Lily Dale’s most established working mediums and the Lily Dale historian shall be included to examine those that visit and those that live within its confines.

The birthplace of modern spiritualism

Spiritualism used to be a force to be reckoned with, it was the most radical religious idea to appear in 2000 years when it emerged in the 1840’s.

As a religious alternative to male-dominated orthodox religion, Spiritualism gave women a social and political voice as well.

Quotes from interviews with three of Lily Dale’s most established spiritualists shall be included.

"Lily Dale is to spiritualism as Rome is to Catholicism,"

Memorial to the Fox Family who lived in this cottage at the time Margaret and Katie Fox aged 9 and 11 years recieved the first proof of the continuity of life which was the begining of modern spiritualism, March 31, 1848. This cottage was bought and moved from Hydesville, NY, its original site, to Lily Dale, NY, in May 1916 by Benjamin F. Bartlett...

The birthplace of modern spiritualism
Spiritualism used to be a force to be reckoned with, it was the most radical religious idea to appear in 2000 years when it emerged in the 1840’s.

As a religious alternative to male-dominated orthodox religion, Spiritualism gave women a social and political voice as well

The article casts a spotlight on the eccentric collection of Lily Dale’s mediums.

Quotes from 3 sLily Dale spiritualist mediums.

41 registered spiritualist mediums

Healers, past life regression, aura readings

Survival evidence

Matched only by the eccentricity of its camp members

Seeking deeply spiritual moments

Some are drawn much like a pilgrimage, others harbour prior belief and all seek validation and evidence of the afterlife.

Spirit communication

Spiritually unique

Public demonstrations of mediumship are included in the gate fee and are held three times a

Before June 29, 2012, and after September 2, 2012, Lily Dale is still open to the public. Feel free to come and walk around our grounds–without paying a gate fee–during the spring, fall and winter. Daily and weekly events are not held during the off season. Registered medium services are available all year.

The Lily Dale Spiritualist Church and the Church of the Living Spirit offer classes and other opportunities for exploring healing, mediumship and other facets of spiritual development during the off season. Please check their websites for more detailed information.