How did Spiritualist gatherings change into Sunday church services?

Historically, Spiritualism began as a movement focused on small, informal séances and private sittings intended to investigate spirit communication and mental phenomena like clairvoyance. While the movement was inherently religious, it initially avoided formal organization as a church.12

Over time, the movement expanded to include larger public gatherings designed to demonstrate spirit contact and psychic phenomena. These public demonstrations eventually evolved into the structured Sunday church services that became standard in Spiritualist churches during the 20th century. This transition toward a more formal religious structure was further solidified by the creation of associations, such as the National Spiritualist Association of Churches, which was formed in 1893 to unify the movement.12

In addition to these services, many associations established camps where believers could congregate in a leisurely setting to attend daily séances and have private sessions with a medium, further integrating communal practice into the Spiritualist experience.1