A group from the Baptist Union of Great Britain has issued a warning against people turning to spiritualism to help with their grieving process.
The Baptist Deliverance Study Group, a body in charge of deliverance ministry, has expressed concern as there has been a rise in people looking to contact the dead through mediums to say goodbye to loved ones.
But the group is urging people to stay away from such practices as it could "open up a doorway to great spiritual oppression which requires a Christian rite to set that person free."
"The fact that people have often not been able to say goodbye properly…there's often been very limited contact at the end with loved ones, and even limited numbers in funeral services. And therefore, it stores a lot of unmet psychological needs in people," Rev Jayne Irlam from the Baptist Deliverance Study Group told Premier.
"We need to think carefully as the church about how we meet that, and how Christ wants to meet that in order to persuade people that they don't need to turn to these practices, which invariably leads to bondage and suffering in the end."
Rev Irlam went on to explain that many people who have approached the group for help, and had been involved in spiritualism or even satanism, said they found "a greater sense of belonging [in spiritualism] than they would feel from the established Church".
"I think that's a real challenge towards the Christian Church, to think very carefully about why people perceive that. It is very sad that somebody might actually feel but they get a greater sense of purpose and belonging, and even support from a group dedicated to something like witchcraft than they do from the Christian Church," Rev Irlam continued.
"My advice to churches would be to look out for people who are searching and may wander into the church, who have also been looking around at over spiritual options. And make sure that your doctrine is clear that you cannot combine following Christ with the odd visit to the spiritualist church."
Police in Manchester have also contacted the group as there is concern the rise in spiritualism is leading to the exploitation of vulnerable groups. Those who bereaved are being urged to seek help in their local church.