The East Hamilton Spiritual Church was incorporated on September 25th, 1918. The founding members were originally affiliated with the First Spiritualist Church of Hamilton which was located in the city centre. In those early days, distance and travelling time from the eastern part of the city were not as convenient as they are today, so this group decided to organize and build a church closer to their home environment. In 1921, a new purpose built church was opened on Balmoral Avenue, just off Barton Street in the eastern end of the city, a few blocks from the present church location. In 1973 the city expropriated the church property to build a parking lot and it was then relocated to its’ present location on Ottawa Street. 

The Mission of The East Hamilton Spiritual Church is
to teach and proclaim the Science, Philosophy and Religion of Spiritualism.

In its early years the East Hamilton Spiritual Church had a strong and vibrant membership. Its membership numbered in the hundreds during the first half of the 20th century and included a thriving lyceum (spiritual development school for children and young people). Church services included spiritual healing, demonstrations of physical mediumship and an abundant roster of local and visiting speakers. 

Rev. Yendley Burton and Maude Burton were among the many members who were very active (mid 1920's onward) in the church. They were both gifted lecturers and mediums and each served terms as Presidents of the church. The Burtons were very active members of the Spiritualists National Union of Canada. In addition they also worked within the Spiritualist community in Lily Dale, New York for many years. 

Another key figure in the early development of the East Hamilton Spiritual Church was Henry Thomas Batten. He immigrated to Canada in 1925, and later became the President of the church. He was an excellent physical medium. Henry Thomas Batten was mentioned in the autobiography of Alfred Kitson (respected spiritualist who helped develop the first British lyceum manual) where he was reported to have been able to produce perfume from spirit, while walking up and down the church and scattering it over the congregation, in broad daylight, with no special equipment of any kind." 

In the winter of 2005 the East Hamilton Spiritual Church was approached by the Bolton Spiritualist Church located in Lancashire, England about a twinning. There is a strong historical link between these two churches. Many of the early members of the East Hamilton Church were immigrants from the Lancashire area. They brought their experience and enthusiasm with them to Canada and helped to establish churches like East Hamilton and contributed immeasurably to the advancement and development of Spiritualism in this region. 

Currently, the East Hamilton Spiritual Church has an active membership that includes new individuals, ongoing members and those whose families were among the founding members of the church. East Hamilton offers two services per week (Sunday mornings and Tuesday evenings). The church presents a changing roster of resident ministers and visiting speakers and mediums from around southern Ontario and across Canada, the United States and Great Britain. Both the Sunday and Tuesday Services include a spiritual healing portion. In addition to its services with lectures, and demonstrations of mediumship the church offers development and spiritual healing classes and workshops. Annual and special events include Medium's Reading Days, Candlelight Services, Spring and Seasonal Dinners and other events. Highlights of the past few years have included two naming services and the ordination of longtime member Rev. Leonard Spicer at the Church. Rev. Spicer first became members of the Church in the early in the 1970's and has held every position on the board of directors and is now the church president. In 2008 the East Hamilton Spiritual Church celebrates the 90th year.