Wiccan High Priestess Patricia Crowther has died age 97.

Her actions and teaching have developed the Wiccan religion by changing outside attitudes and making the religion more widespread to practice.

Image Credit: ‘From Stagecraft to Witchcraft’ (2002) / Capall Bann.

Crowther was born in Sheffield, and her family had a close connection to clairvoyance and local folk traditions, which connected her to Wicca. She was initiated into the religion in 1960 by the accredited practictioner Gerald Gardener.

She co-created the BBC show A Spell of Witchcraft with her husband Arnold in the 1970s. The show aimed to “redress some of the balance” and change attitudes and misunderstanding of witchcraft and witches.

Image Credit: BBC / ‘A Spell of Witchcraft’ Radio show (1950)

Crowther established the Sheffield Coven with her husband who died in 1974. Her title was High Priestess of the Moon Goddess.

Along with practice, Crowther wrote several books on witchcraft from The Witches Speak (1965), written with her husband, Witch Blood (1974) to Covesnsense (2009).

Crowther always loved performances and theatre from pantomimes to performing on piers.

Pagan news site Wild Hunt said: “Her spirit continues to live on in the covens and communities she inspired.”

Featured Image Credit: ‘From Stagecraft to Witchcraft’ (2020) Fenix Flames Publishing Ltd.