Bishop Rebecca Belton: St. Ann's Spiritual Church

In September 1941 a service was held in New York City marking the consecration of Rev. Rebecca Belton as Bishop of the St. Ann's Assembly of Spiritualists. According to an article the service of consecration was held in a very high church style, with a processional of acolytes, choirs, ministers, and bishops of the church wearing robes indicating their rank, with the choir singing the hymn "Lead on King Eternal." 

Bishop Rebecca Belton founded the St. Ann Spiritual Assembly in 1934. In addition to her duties as Bishop and Pastor of her organization, she also offered counseling. One article states, she "will gladly help you to banish worries and fears by helping and aiding you through spiritual advice and counsel." 

According to an article Bishop Rebecca A. Belton was regarded as on of the leading women of the Spiritualist Church in America. She was ordained as a licensed minister in New York State, and was ordained to the ministry in 1933 following her graduation from the White Institute of Science. 

The St. Ann Assembly of Spiritualist was named after Saint Anne, traditionally held to be the Mother of the Virgin Mary and the Grandmother of Jesus. Although not mentioned in the New Testament, her story is included in the Apocryphal Gospel of James, and in works of Catholic tradition such as Butler's Lives of the Saints. Her feast day is July 26th and her most important shrine in North America is the Basilica of St. Anne de Beaupre in Quebec, Canada. 

Bishop Belton's main church was St. Ann Spiritual Church. The Church held Sunday Services with included Healing and Messages, and also a weekly Sunday School. She Church also offered Communion services every first Sunday. 

Bishop Belton also organized several conventions and banquets; according to an article, one of the objectives of these meetings was to launch a program that would give the public a better idea of the work and purposes of established Spiritualist Churches.