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John with Pema Dorje Occulture 2001
Born in Birmingham, England in 1952. John Belham-Payne grew up in the industrial town of Dudley in the area of Midlands England, known as the “Black Country”. On leaving photographic college he worked in Italy as a musician and ran a bar on the Italian Riviera Del Fiore. Upon his return to the UK John joined the marketing department of Dudley Zoo and Castle. He became the Zoo’s assistant general manager but left after a very public disagreement about animal welfare policy. John Belham-Payne had been a working musician since the age of 11 and after leaving the Zoo became a professional drummer working with a number of 70’s bands. He was a popular session player and has played on numerous records. His last working band was the post-punk outfit called The Piranhas. A serious car accident in which John broke his back brought his days as a working musician to an end.
Spiritual Path
At an early age John Belham-Payne discovered a spiritual calling and attended his local church. He soon became disillusioned and it was not long before he left to seek other faiths. Like many others that eventually see Paganism as their chosen path John studied several other religions but in those days it was difficult to find anyone that could teach Witchcraft. John was initiated into the craft by Patricia and John Edwards, traditional Welsh witches on Samhain 1973 at the age of 21. Moving to London shortly after, he worked solo for a number of years until he met Ralph and Audrey Harvey who run the Coven of Artemis in Brighton, England. John was then initiated into that coven. In 1995 he and his wife Julie set up the Centre for Pagan Studies (CFPS) in an 18th century barn at their Sussex home. Doreen Valiente became a firm friend and supporter of the work of the CFPS. John became Doreen’s last high priest and initiated John to 3rd degree. John and Julie nursed her around the clock during her short illness and John was with her holding her hand when she passed into the Summerlands on September 1st 1999. In her Will she bequeathed to John Belham-Payne her famous collection of witchcraft artefacts, her extensive library, and the copyright on all her poetry and her research material. She also requested that John performed her funeral service. In 2000 John and Julie moved home to Spain, this has freed them to restore and archive Doreen Valiente’s famous collection of Witchcraft artefacts and publish her book of poetry, entitled “Charge of The Goddess” In 2001 John was admitted to the Aquarian Tabernacle Church thus given the honorary title of “Reverend”. Together with a travelling exhibition of the artefacts of Doreen Valiente, John Belham-Payne runs a series of lectures to raise funds for a suitable, permanent venue for a Study Centre and Museum so that the Doreen Valiente collection and library becomes available to those that seek knowledge. More information together with a video clip of John speaking, can be obtained from the web site www.doreenvaliente.com You can contact John Belham-Payne through this website.
To see a video of John speaking about Doreen’s death please visit this page.
