In the very early days of the church and before the current building was constructed, members held regular meetings and demonstrations of mediumship in rented rooms above the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society (RACS) in Well Hall Road not far from where the church stands today.

In those days Eltham was linked to Woolwich by tram and many were employed in the Royal Arsenal.

After the Armistice in 1919 the demand for weapons and ordnance fell dramatically and by 1922 only a fraction of workers at the Arsenal remained in employment. Times were tough in Eltham and the church struggled to survive.

Although there is no record of any requests for donations in the minutes of the church, there is one significant donation received in 1923, £5 from Arthur Conan Doyle, himself a spiritualist. Written on his personal notepaper from Crowborough he penned the following words of encouragement :-

I enclose £5 for the funds of Eltham Spiritualist Church, I wish you success in your efforts to overcome your financial difficulties.

Yours sincerely

Arthur Conan Doyle

A copy of the original note (slightly damaged) is shown below