Entry No. 2 — the Indianapolis file — filed under: witchy
Psychic Science Spiritualist Church
Serving Indianapolis since 1923, this historic Old Northside sanctuary is a real Spiritualist church dedicated to spirit communication and psychic science. Visitors can attend Sunday message services where ordained mediums pass along spirit messages, or participate in weekday healing circles.
The story
If you walk down Central Avenue in the Old Northside, you’d be forgiven for mistaking 1415 Central for just another quiet, early 20th-century neighborhood chapel. But you didn't hear it from us: behind those brick walls sits the Psychic Science Spiritualist Church, an institution that has been practicing spirit communication in Indianapolis since 1923, holding down this specific sanctuary continuously since 1942.
Spiritualism here isn't a modern pop-up gimmick or a dark parlor trick. It’s a preserved pocket of a historic American movement centered on the belief that consciousness survives physical death and that spirits can communicate with the living. Instead of traditional sermons, ordained mediums take the floor to practice 'psychic science,' relaying spirit messages directly to congregation members alongside weekday healing circles.
What it's like
Arriving for a Sunday or Thursday service feels deceptively ordinary—there are wooden pews, quiet hushed tones, and a standard chapel setup. There are no crystal balls or dim theatrical lights; the atmosphere is earnest, calm, and low-key. Ordained mediums speak from the front, delivering messages from spirit to people sitting in the congregation. Keep in mind this is an active sanctuary, not a ghost tour: sit quietly, show respect, and treat it as the sacred service it is. Schedules can fluctuate, so confirm current service times online before you head over.
The move: Attend a Sunday message service or a Saturday reading session inside this early 20th-century church building to experience historic Midwest Spiritualism in action.
- 📍 Old Northside
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1415 Central Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- The Harrison Center — Pair a mediumship service with a three-block walk to another repurposed historic church that now houses dozens of local artist studios.
- Chatham Passage — Follow up spiritual communication with a stroll down Mass Ave to stand over a subterranean street grate that unexpectedly wafts the scent of fresh roses.
- Bootleggers — Contrast an earnest historic Spiritualist gathering with a descent into a gritty, bell-ring Prohibition bunker hidden beneath Penn Avenue.
Good to know
Do I need to be a member or make a reservation to attend?
No, visitors and curious newcomers are welcome to attend open Sunday message services, Thursday gatherings, and Saturday reading sessions.
What actually happens during a Sunday message service?
Services blend congregational quiet with mediumship, where ordained mediums address attendees and pass along spirit messages from the pulpit.
How long has the church been operating at this Central Avenue location?
While the church was founded in Indianapolis in 1923, it has served the community continuously from its Old Northside sanctuary at 1415 Central Avenue since 1942.
Do they offer healing sessions?
Yes, the church incorporates healing circles into its regular schedule alongside message services and mediumship readings.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · indianalandmarks.org · Facebook
last checked: 2026-07-21