Quaker landlords have banned the Finchley Independent Spiritual Centre from holding meetings at its hall in Alexandra Grove.

The Quakers, who believe in direct communication with God, gave the group its marching orders after learning clairvoyance sessions were held in the building.

Founding member Tracy Antoniou said she has been given until the end of the month to vacate the hall. "It's a shame they can't be more open-minded, but they just can't seem to understand how we can commune with people who have passed over," she said.

But Tracy isn't bitter. In fact she interprets the news as 'outside' intervention which will force her to find bigger and better premises.

"Since the group started last November we have had more than 200 people walking through our doors. There's a real demand for what we are doing and we were beginning to think about finding somewhere bigger," she said. "I think this is just one way of moving us forward."

The Quakers, whose origins can be traced back to the 17th Century, meet for worship without the aid of ministers or prepared sermons.

According to the Pears Encyclopaedia, there is complete silence until someone is moved by the Holy Spirit to utter his message.

Quaker clerk Ann Ray refused to be drawn on any similarities, simply saying some members were unhappy with what the Spiritualists were doing. "We are a Christian denomination," she said.

Lynn Guest, editor of the national newspaper, Psychic News, said: "It's funny, you'd expect the Quakers to be more liberal. I suppose they just don't want to be told the truth. I feel very sorry for the Finchley group and I hope they will be able to find another venue."

If you can offer the Spiritualists a new home or would like to sponsor their meetings, call David Hyams on 0181 349 1974.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.