Spirited Stoke: Spiritualism in the Everyday Life of Stoke-on-Trent (SpELS)

“特伦特河畔斯托克日常生活中的招魂术”（spells）是一个研究项目，旨在研究斯托克城如何承认或隐藏精神和招魂术（“斯托克”是构成特伦特河畔斯托克市的六个城镇的流行统称：朗顿、伯斯勒姆、芬顿、汉利、斯托克和滕斯托尔）。唯心论是一种哲学和宗教，其基础是相信灵魂在肉体死亡后继续存在，并且通过训练有素的灵媒可以与精神交流。人们通常认为唯心论是一种过去的宗教，然而，从最近的人口普查数据和英国持续存在的唯心论教堂来看，毫无疑问，唯心论今天仍在被实践。作为一个在工业衰退后试图更新其身份的城市，斯托克主要关注重建其建筑环境和提高其陶器遗产的计划。然而，这座城市一直在努力改变人们对它极其平凡的看法。然而，我们觉得斯托克城能提供的远不止它的工业历史。例如，很少有人知道在七英里半径内有三个非常活跃的通灵派教堂，其中一个是戈登·希金森的家，他是全国通灵主义者联盟任职时间最长的主席。随着城市工业的衰落，斯托克也是蓬勃发展的通灵运动的全国中心。我们相信，这些隐藏的遗产揭示了斯托克城被工业遗产所掩盖的神秘而迷人的一面。SpELS研究项目旨在通过将城市、博物馆和招魂教会成员聚集在一起进行对话，揭示斯托克市隐藏的招魂过去。为了做到这一点，该项目将在格莱斯顿陶器博物馆举办展览，并将其与“精神之路”联系起来，这些“精神之路”将通往陶器博物馆和艺术画廊的永久收藏，以及整个城市——突出历史上具有精神特色的地方。公众也将有机会参加活动和灵媒示范，并分享他们自己的精神体验。我们希望这将鼓励人们反思精神在他们生活中的作用，并让人们看到经常被认为是禁忌的经历。

'Spiritualism in the Everyday Life of Stoke-on-Trent' (SpELS) is a research project looking at how spirit and Spiritualism are acknowledged or hidden in the city of Stoke ('Stoke' is the popular collective name used for the six towns which make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent: Longton, Burslem, Fenton, Hanley, Stoke and Tunstall). Spiritualism is a philosophy and religion based on the belief that the soul continues to live following the death of the physical body and that communication with spirit is possible through the channel of trained mediums. It has often been assumed that Spiritualism is a religion of the past, however, from the latest Census numbers and the on-going presence of Spiritualist churches in Britain, there is no doubt that Spiritualism is still being practised today.As a city that has been attempting to renew its identity following industrial decline, Stoke has mainly focused on plans to regenerate its built environment and heighten its pottery heritage. However, the city has struggled to change the perception of its ultimate ordinariness. Yet, we feel that there is more that Stoke has to offer than its industrial past. For instance, few are aware that there are three very active Spiritualist churches within a seven mile radius, and one of them was the home to Gordon Higginson, the longest serving President of the Spiritualist National Union. As the city's industries were declining, Stoke was also the national hub of a thriving Spiritualist movement. We believe that this hidden legacy reveals a mysterious and enchanted side to Stoke that has been overshadowed by its industrial heritage.The SpELS research project aims to uncover the hidden Spiritualist past of Stoke by bringing together the city, museums, and members of the Spiritualist churches in conversation. To do this, the project will feature an exhibition at the Gladstone Pottery Museum and link it with 'spirit trails' that will run to the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery's permanent collection as well as through the city - highlighting places that feature spirit in their histories. Members of the public will also have the opportunity to attend events and mediumship demonstrations, and share their own spiritual experiences. We hope that this will encourage people to reflect upon the role of spirit in their lives and give visibility to experiences that are often considered taboo.