In Memory of Mavis
REVEREND MAVIS PITTILLA -ordained at the Journey within -New Jersey USA
OFFICIANT OF THE SPIRITUALIST NATIONAL UNION
LONG SERVICE AWARD HOLDER OF THE SPIRITUALIST NATIONAL UNION
Mavis’s journey began in 1966 on a bright summer day when she suddenly saw a male figure build up in the living room at her home. At the time she was very seriously ill having been told that she had only three months to live, the man told her to: ‘go and find a healer or you will not hear the New Year bells.’ The shock of this experience and the pursuit of spiritual healing and intervention of the medical profession led her to lifetime of dedication to Spirit and Spiritualism. ‘
From this time Mavis had spontaneous clairvoyance and clairaudience but had to learn to control it and utilise it properly. She initially trained under the tutorship of a gentleman called Mr Brookes at her local church in Middleton, near Manchester, but was then taken under the wing of Gordon Higginson, the most knowledgeable and inspirational medium of the 20th Century. This was a wonderful grounding and education and it also created a close and lasting friendship with this remarkable man.
Thus, began an adventure which saw her work with the Kabalic Masters on the shores of Galilee, a rare experience for anyone, but particularly for a woman with the third eye. She demonstrated mediumship in South Africa accompanied by a Soweto choir from the Shanty towns. She worked in Ireland during the troubles supporting Protestant and Catholic families all feeling the same pain in grief. There have been many other unique and memorable situations where her ability was stretched and tested, all for the benefit of both worlds. She worked in lots of countries throughout the world; America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Holland, Germany, Norway, Iceland, and Spain to name a few.
Throughout the years she was fortunate enough to witness physical mediumship in a way it is unlikely to be seen again. She had seen recognisable figures build from the ectoplasm, she received apports as well as watching them develop in these physical circles. Through the trumpet she heard direct voice and also experienced levitation and astral travel. A trance medium herself, she sat with many trance mediums and helped in their development.
She was introduced to the Arthur Findlay College by Gordon Higginson in the late sixties and she became a tutor and eventually senior tutor. Her great passion was teaching whether it be the fundamentals or advanced mediumship. She provided master classes for tutors and indeed was instrumental in helping to develop many of the younger mediums currently working in this country and abroad. She was an Officiant of the SNU and can be seen in the photograph receiving her Long Service award by the former President of the SNU David Bruton.
Mavis recorded numerous CDs including ‘The Spirit Within’ ‘The Sacred Breath’ Room with a View’ and many others. She also appeared on several television programmes and lots of radio programmes where she was always in great demand.
Mavis was the author of the book ‘Mavis with Spirit,’ in which she shared some of her thoughts and Philosophy. Her life story was documented by the well- known American Author and Medium, Suzanne Giesemann, in the biography “Droplets of God”.
Mavis worked throughout the world, but her home base was in Macclesfield Cheshire, UK, where she ran online mentorship programmes with her partner Jean, who is maintaining Mavis’ legacy after her passing. Mavis worked hard in the Spiritualist Churches in the UK maintaining grass roots love of the Churches and belief in her religion. She firmly believed that ‘Love like life can never die.’
Watch Mavis’s Memorial Service
held at the Arthur Findlay College, on 29th October 2022, to recognise how important she was to Spiritualism, and how loved she was. See the video below:
Jean, Mavis’s wife with the support of the Arthur Findlay College would like to invite you to watch her memorial service to celebrate her amazing life, and dedication to service to the spirit, of one of the finest mediums of our times. The service took place in the Sanctuary of The Arthur Findlay College, Stansted Hall, Burton End, Stansted on Saturday 29th October at 1pm.
The memorial service was streamed live online and is available to watch below for anyone who was not able to attend in person.