Patricia Crowther, Known as UK’s Oldest Witch, Dies Aged 97

Published: 26 September ‘2025. The English Chronicle Desk

Patricia Crowther, widely regarded as the UK’s oldest witch and one of the most influential figures in the modern revival of Wicca, has died at the age of 97. Her passing marks the end of an era for Britain’s pagan community, where she was celebrated as a high priestess, teacher, and author who dedicated her life to keeping the traditions of witchcraft alive in contemporary society.

Crowther devoted decades to promoting Wicca, a modern pagan religion developed by Gerald Gardner in the mid-20th century. Gardner, who opened a witchcraft museum on the Isle of Man in the 1940s, is credited with rescuing the practice from obscurity, and Crowther became one of his most devoted followers. Through her work, she sought to ensure that witchcraft would be not only preserved but also better understood in a country that had long associated it with fear and persecution.

In the 1970s, Patricia Crowther and her husband, Arnold Crowther, co-created A Spell of Witchcraft, a series broadcast on BBC Radio Sheffield. The programme is often remembered as a turning point in the public perception of witchcraft, helping to introduce modern Wiccan practices and beliefs to a much wider audience. The show combined historical insights, folklore, and discussions about the role of witchcraft in everyday community life, with glimpses into the rituals and activities of local covens.

Before becoming a leading figure in the occult world, Crowther had pursued a career in the entertainment industry. She worked as a dancer and theatre performer and was known for staging puppet and magic shows for children, a background that perhaps influenced the theatrical elements she later incorporated into her rituals and public outreach.

In an interview with The Guardian in the late 1990s, she recalled her husband’s involvement in “operation cone of power,” a ritual conducted in the New Forest during the Second World War. According to Crowther, witches gathered to raise energy to prevent Adolf Hitler’s invasion of Britain. “Hitler was expected on our shores at any time,” she said. “They did not throw white powder but worked in the New Forest, chanting: ‘You cannot cross the sea / Not able to come,’ repeated over and over and raising the power through the dance.” She added that historians had often speculated about the reasons for Hitler’s change of plans, but within the pagan community, the ritual remained part of its folklore.

Throughout her life, Crowther published several books on witchcraft, spirituality, and ritual practice, becoming a respected voice both in the UK and internationally. Her writing often blended historical research with personal insight, aiming to demystify the practice while preserving its sacred traditions.

Her death was first reported by the pagan news publisher The Wild Hunt, which paid tribute to her lasting impact on modern paganism. “As high priestess, author, and teacher, Patricia Crowther leaves a profound legacy,” the statement read. “Her work ensured that witchcraft remained vibrant, accessible, and present in modern times. Her memory will be a blessing to all who have been touched by her work in Wicca, and her spirit continues to live on in the covens and communities she inspired.”

For many, Crowther’s contribution to Wicca went beyond the practice itself; she was instrumental in reframing witchcraft as a legitimate spiritual path rather than a subject of fear or ridicule. To the generations she inspired, she leaves behind not only her writings and teachings but also a resilient spiritual movement that continues to grow worldwide.