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John Belham-Payne
Written and compiled by
George Knowles
John Belham-Payne is perhaps best known as a co-founder of the Centre For Pagan Studies (CFPS) and the last High Priest of Doreen Valiente, England’s most famous contemporary Witch. Since her sad demise in 1999, John has been the custodian of Doreen’s extensive collection of witchcraft artefacts, which together with Gerald Gardner’s original “Book of Shadows” are considered to be modern witchcraft’s most important documents.
Doreen Valiente - Gerald Gardner
John Belham-Payne was born in 1952 in Dudley near Birmingham, England. At an early age while attending his local church, John felt the pull of a spiritual calling, but soon became disillusioned with formal religion. Undeterred, he left the church to begin a life long search and study of other alternative religions, which eventually led him to Paganism and Witchcraft.
During his youth John showed a keen interest in music, and from the age of 11 was a working musician playing drums. After leaving school he studied photography at College, before moving to Italy where he worked as a musician and ran a bar on the Italian Riviera Del Fiore. On his return home to the UK, he next took employment in the marketing department of Dudley Zoo and Castle, rising to the position of assistant general manager before leaving after a public disagreement concerning animal welfare policy.
After leaving Dudley Zoo, John again took up music and through the 1970’s worked with a number of prominent group/bands as a professional drummer. He was also a popular session player, and is featured backing numerous recording groups of the same era. The last working band he played with was a Brighton based post-punk group called The Piranhas. During their hay-day in the late 1970’s, The Piranhas had two top twenty UK hits, but sadly while returning from a late-night gig in 1982, a serious car accident on Hove Seafront resulted in John breaking his back, and ended his days as a working musician.
After the accident John began to focus more on his spiritual and religious beliefs, and like many others choosing Paganism and Witchcraft as their path, he found it difficult to find someone to teach him. Perseverance prevailed however, and at Samhain in 1973 he was initiated into a traditional Welsh coven headed by Patricia and John Edwards. In a later interview with TWPT (The Wiccan Pagan Times) John states:
“Like many new to the studies of the Old Ways I was desperate to be initiated and when I was, it soon became obvious that these people knew a lot less than I did. For me casting a circle seemed a natural extension to my arm. They seemed to be more concerned with getting the words right. They had a lineage but I felt there was little in the way of content. I did go through a full traditional year and a day before initiation but I now believe that I should have waited until the right teacher came along”.
Moving to London shortly after, John worked solitary for a number of years and eventually found that right teacher. He met Ralph and Audrey Harvey who ran the well-established Gardnerian Coven of Artemis in Brighton, England. After a period of study with them, John was later initiated into their coven.
In 1995 seeing the need for a meeting place where people could learn more about their chosen paths, and more particularly, from well-known and respected teachers of the craft, John together with his wife Julie, and Ray and Lynda Lindfield of the Alexandrian tradition, founded the Centre For Pagan Studies (CFPS). They converted an old 17th Century barn in the grounds of their Sussex home, and turned it into a meeting place facility complete with it’s own temple.
The centre was the first building in the UK ever to be given planning permission with the word ‘Pagan’ in it. Situated on the outskirts of an old English village, and to convert it into a place of public use, they had to display local notices about their intentions and the proposed use of the building. After overcoming a number of objections from local residents, the council finally granted permission and work began. Later to encourage local participation in their activities, and to quell any leftover fears about Witches and Pagans practising in their locality, they held several open events to celebrate the seasonal changes. During the Beltane celebration in the following year, many local residents attended the Centre and had a great time dancing around a Maypole erected outside in the grounds.
The CFPS was founded with the intention of raising the ethical and educational standards of the Craft. They didn’t teach magic or witchcraft, nor did they charge high prices, all they needed was to cover their costs. They held lectures and seminars and invited some of the countries leading teachers to talk about specialized subjects. By doing so they were able to guide genuine students in the right direction, and to suitable teachers, without any association to the Centre itself. The Centre’s temple was also made available for private hire to anyone that needed to use it, and several successful Rituals and Handfastings were held there.
Later that year at Samhain (Halloween) a large party complete with a huge firework display was held at the Centre. Among the VIPs who attend the party was Doreen Valiente, England’s most influential modern Witch. She soon became a firm friend and supporter of the CFPS, and was later made its Patron. It was Doreen who initiated John to the 3rd degree and made him her last High Priest. Sadly after a long struggle with cancer, illness finally overcame Doreen, who in her last few days was moved to a nursing home for extra care and attention. There, throughout her final hours, John and his wife Julie were at her bedside, and at 6.55 a.m. on the 1st September 1999, she cross the threshold into the Otherworld.
In her Last Will and Testament, Doreen bequeathed to John her famous collection of witchcraft artefacts, her extensive library, and copyright to all her poetry and research materials. The collection also included many items made by Gerald Gardner, some of his ritual items, and his original and last Book of Shadows. This together with Doreen’s own Book of Shadows, are thought by many to be contemporary witchcraft’s most important documents. She also requested that John perform her funeral service. This was to be the last time that the temple at the CFPS was used, and where Doreen was laid for a few days prior to her funeral surrounded by candles and woodland flowers.
Shortly after the death of Doreen Valiente and in the following year 2000, John and Julie moved to southern Spain where they lived in Malaga, a city and seaport in Andalusia. This allowed them time to begin the arduous task of restoring and archiving Doreen’s famous collection of artefacts. They also posthumously publish her book of poetry The Charge of The Goddess, a quest promised to Doreen on her deathbed. Since then together with a travelling exhibition of her artefacts, John now runs a series of lectures in his efforts to raise funds for a new and permanent venue for the CFPS. He also hope’s in the future to fund a Museum so that Doreen’s whole collection and library, and those donated by other well-known witches, can be made available to the general public.
Doreen and John - Doreen at rest in the Temple - Book of Poetry
Aside from his obvious dedication and preoccupation with Doreen Valiente, during a visit to the United States in 2001, in recognition for his contribution to Witchcraft, the well-established Aquarian Tabernacle Church in that country bestowed on John the honorary title of Reverend. John has also been a long-standing committee member of the Pagan Federation here in the UK, and indeed has declined the role of President of that organisation twice. He is also one of the longest standing members of their National Conference team, as part of which, he attended the 2004 Parliament of the World’s Religions meeting in Barcelona.
Finally, when questioned about the future of Witchcraft in the UK, in an interview with TWPT (The Wiccan Pagan Times) he states:
“Help! Comes to mind. I keep getting letters from around the world telling me that I am now the head of the Gardnerian tradition. Do people really think of me in that way? It seems such a responsibility somehow that I have to admit I haven't really taken on board. I truly believe that the craft is served best in a coven set-up, with a High Priestess and a High Priest being responsible for the group and their training, by sticking to the laws in both practical and spiritual terms. They are responsible for running structured 'open meetings' for those seeking the craft. If these ‘open meetings’ are run properly then in that ‘year and a day’ they will know from the questions the newcomer asks whether the craft is right for them and whether the person is right for that group. These hard working priests and priestesses are our real leaders. To run an extended family in this way is such a responsibility. Doreen Valiente always stuck to the rules, she never waivered. Neither has Patricia Crowther.
I will follow their example. I have been asked to set up and run a coven for years, but I think those upstairs have other plans for me. I certainly promise to honour that magical lineage that has been passed on to me until it is my turn to find a lady to pass the magical flame onto at my death. I also admire those that decide to work solo and self initiate. This is a difficult path to follow and I am always happy to help where I can though I still believe that structured coven training works best. I work alone a lot of my time and like Doreen I am always honoured when I am invited by a coven to help celebrate the turning of the year with them. By not working with a particular group I think I can be more helpful to any that seek my help”.
Sources:
My grateful thanks to John Belham-Payne and his wife Julie for their correspondence and help in compiling this short biography.
Plus to many others to mention
Best wishes and Blessed Be
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