The Society for Psychical Research (SPR) is a nonprofit organisation in the United Kingdom. Its stated purpose is to understand events and abilities commonly described as psychic or paranormal. It describes itself as the "first society to conduct organised scholarly research into human experiences that challenge contemporary scientific models." It does not, however, since its inception in 1882, hold any corporate opinions: SPR members assert a variety of beliefs with regard to the nature of the phenomena studied.
Spiritualism is a religious movement based on the belief that the spirits of the dead exist and have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living. The afterlife, or the "spirit world", is seen by spiritualists, not as a static place, but as one in which spirits continue to evolve. These two beliefs—that contact with spirits is possible, and that spirits are more advanced than humans—lead spiritualists to a third belief: that spirits are capable of providing useful knowledge about moral and ethical issues, as well as about the nature of God. Some spiritualists will speak of a concept which they refer to as "spirit guides"—specific spirits, often contacted, who are relied upon for spiritual guidance. Spiritism, a branch of spiritualism developed by Allan Kardec and today practiced mostly in Continental Europe and Latin America, especially in Brazil, emphasizes reincarnation.
The Spiritualist Association of Great Britain is a British spiritualist organisation. It was established in 1872.
The College of Psychic Studies is a non-profit organisation based in South Kensington, London. It is dedicated to the study of psychic and spiritualist phenomena.
Hensleigh Wedgwood was a British etymologist, philologist and barrister, author of A Dictionary of English Etymology. He was a cousin of Charles Darwin, whom his sister Emma married in 1839.
The Ghost Club is a paranormal investigation and research organization, founded in London in 1862. It is widely believed to be the oldest such organization in the world. Since 1862 it has primarily investigated ghosts and hauntings.
Eleanor Mildred Sidgwick,, known as Nora to her family and friends, was a physics researcher assisting Lord Rayleigh, an activist for the higher education of women, Principal of Newnham College of the University of Cambridge, and a leading figure in the Society for Psychical Research.
William Stainton Moses (1839–1892) was an English cleric and spiritualist medium.
Percy Scawen WyndhamDL JP MP was a British soldier, Conservative Party politician, collector and intellectual. He was one of the original members of The Souls, and built Clouds House at East Knoyle, Wiltshire.
William Eglinton (1857–1933), also known as William Eglington was a British spiritualist medium who was exposed as a fraud.
Francis Ward Monck was a British clergyman and spiritualist medium who was exposed as a fraud.
Janet Oppenheim (1948–1994) was an American historian.
Stanhope Templeman Speer was a British physician and mountain climber.
Charles Alexander Lockhart Robertson, best known as C. Lockhart Robertson, was a Scottish asylum doctor and spiritualist.
George Wyld (1821–1906) was a Scottish homeopathic physician and Christian Theosophist.
William Wortley Baggally, most well known as W. W. Baggally, was a British psychical researcher who investigated spiritualist mediums.
Alaric Alfred Watts most well known as A. A. Watts was a British government clerk, spiritualist and writer.
Charlton Templeman Speer also known as Charlton T. Speer was an English composer and spiritualist.
John Stephen Farmer also known as J. S. Farmer was a British lexicographer, spiritualist and writer. He was most well known for his seven volume dictionary of slang.
The Oxford Phasmatological Society was an organisation from Oxford that investigated paranormal phenomena. It lasted from 1879-1885. It is considered the oldest psychical society in existence.
