World Federation of Healing
THE PATH OF SPIRITUAL HEALING IN THE U.K.
by Doreen Fare.
Spiritual Healing in this country had been practiced for many years and societies such as White Eagle Lodge (founded in 1936) were quietly getting on with it.
In 1949 a small number of healers banded together under the leadership of John Britnell and formed the Essex Healers Association. Similar local groups were formed all over the U.K and soon it was seen that national co-ordination was needed.
1952 – The Bristol Society of Spiritual Healing was formed and Dennis Fare drew up the Constitution – the card of which is still to hand.
June 1954 – The National Federation of Spiritual Healers was created upon the initiative of John Britnell (Essex Healers) and Harry Edwards was recorded as member number one.
1960 – the NFSH Chairman Gordon Turner persuaded the medical authorities to allow Spiritual Healers to visit and give healing in hospitals. Three years later it is recorded that 249 medical authorities governing 1,560 hospitals were allowing Spiritual Healers to practice.
1963 – Harry Edwards, together with George and Olive Burton came to the Colston Hall in Bristol to give a healing demonstration. Dennis Fare met them and five years later he was asked by both Harry Edwards and Olive Burton to stand for election as Chairman of the NFSH.
In 1970 Dennis Fare was asked by Harry Edwards to start the Bristol District & Somerset Association of Healers as by this time the Bristol Society of Healers had disbanded.
1973 – due to his age, Harry Edwards resigned as President of the NFSH and Dennis Fare was elected. Very important people supported the NFSH – Air Marshal Sir Victor Goddard, Sir Kelvin Spencer etc. and many doctors were now deeply integrated into healing. Dr. Gotthard Booth (USA) Dr. Christopher Woodard and Dr.Alec Forbes, a cancer consultant at Plymouth Hospital.
1974 – Gilbert Anderson was administrator to NFSH when Dennis Fare was president and in 1974, due to the rapid growth of NFSH membership overseas, Dennis proposed a World Federation of Healing.
September 5 1977 – The World Federation of Healing inaugural Conference was held in Westfield College, London University. The NFSH sponsored this, but wanted to retain their national identity.
1980 – Alec Forbes helped form the now well-known Bristol Cancer Help Centre with Penny Brohn, her friends, Canon Christopher Pilkington and his wife Pat Pilkington. Dennis as NFSH president was invited to join them.
So, here we are, observing how the flower of Spiritual Healing blossomed in this country. From the quiet practices of White Eagle days (1936) and before, men such as John Britnell, Harry Edwards and Gordon Turner brought Spiritual Healing to the knowledge of the medical authorities. The NFSH has grown and matured under the various creative abilities of its leaders and has had medical doctors in presidency. The World Federation of Healing has also grown considerably and has also had in the past, medical doctors as presidents.
At an NFSH Annual General Meeting it was decided to terminate group membership and restrict to individual membership. Many of the county associations, some f whom were registered charities, preferred to carry on independently and so the British Alliance of Healing Associations was officially formed in 1977. The affiliating healing groups being autonomous (ruling themselves) but being nationally guided by BAHA Steering Committee.
Then the Confederation of Healing Organisations (CHO) was formed and they have done an admirable job over the years. They have linked all the healing associations together and have helped to establish healing as a standard therapy for the NHS as well as private medicine. They motivated a mandatory Code of Conduct and contributed to Government policy, which now authorities doctors, to delegate patient care to competent healers, provided the doctor remains in charge.
We now have the U.K. HEALERS originating in 1999, which is the lead body for self-regulation of healer practitioners to the general public in the U.K. Their objective is to protect the public, instil confidence and ensure safe, appropriate and effective practice of Spiritual Healing by registered U.K. Healers and to create and maintain a practitioner register.
The plan for providing Spiritual help and Spiritual Healing to all encompasses us locally, nationally and internationally. Many orthodox churches are again re-instating their healing services. We are all part of this Divine Plan in Life.
Doreen Fare.
Article written originally in Spring 2004.
In the year 2000 at our AGM we discussed changing our name to the Bristol District Association of Healers, to widen our catchment area and to take in complementary therapists and to produce an interesting magazine, which would encourage friends and members.
by Doreen Fare.
Spiritual Healing in this country had been practiced for many years and societies such as White Eagle Lodge (founded in 1936) were quietly getting on with it.
In 1949 a small number of healers banded together under the leadership of John Britnell and formed the Essex Healers Association. Similar local groups were formed all over the U.K and soon it was seen that national co-ordination was needed.
1952 – The Bristol Society of Spiritual Healing was formed and Dennis Fare drew up the Constitution – the card of which is still to hand.
June 1954 – The National Federation of Spiritual Healers was created upon the initiative of John Britnell (Essex Healers) and Harry Edwards was recorded as member number one.
1960 – the NFSH Chairman Gordon Turner persuaded the medical authorities to allow Spiritual Healers to visit and give healing in hospitals. Three years later it is recorded that 249 medical authorities governing 1,560 hospitals were allowing Spiritual Healers to practice.
1963 – Harry Edwards, together with George and Olive Burton came to the Colston Hall in Bristol to give a healing demonstration. Dennis Fare met them and five years later he was asked by both Harry Edwards and Olive Burton to stand for election as Chairman of the NFSH.
In 1970 Dennis Fare was asked by Harry Edwards to start the Bristol District & Somerset Association of Healers as by this time the Bristol Society of Healers had disbanded.
1973 – due to his age, Harry Edwards resigned as President of the NFSH and Dennis Fare was elected. Very important people supported the NFSH – Air Marshal Sir Victor Goddard, Sir Kelvin Spencer etc. and many doctors were now deeply integrated into healing. Dr. Gotthard Booth (USA) Dr. Christopher Woodard and Dr.Alec Forbes, a cancer consultant at Plymouth Hospital.
1974 – Gilbert Anderson was administrator to NFSH when Dennis Fare was president and in 1974, due to the rapid growth of NFSH membership overseas, Dennis proposed a World Federation of Healing.
September 5 1977 – The World Federation of Healing inaugural Conference was held in Westfield College, London University. The NFSH sponsored this, but wanted to retain their national identity.
1980 – Alec Forbes helped form the now well-known Bristol Cancer Help Centre with Penny Brohn, her friends, Canon Christopher Pilkington and his wife Pat Pilkington. Dennis as NFSH president was invited to join them.
So, here we are, observing how the flower of Spiritual Healing blossomed in this country. From the quiet practices of White Eagle days (1936) and before, men such as John Britnell, Harry Edwards and Gordon Turner brought Spiritual Healing to the knowledge of the medical authorities. The NFSH has grown and matured under the various creative abilities of its leaders and has had medical doctors in presidency. The World Federation of Healing has also grown considerably and has also had in the past, medical doctors as presidents.
At an NFSH Annual General Meeting it was decided to terminate group membership and restrict to individual membership. Many of the county associations, some f whom were registered charities, preferred to carry on independently and so the British Alliance of Healing Associations was officially formed in 1977. The affiliating healing groups being autonomous (ruling themselves) but being nationally guided by BAHA Steering Committee.
Then the Confederation of Healing Organisations (CHO) was formed and they have done an admirable job over the years. They have linked all the healing associations together and have helped to establish healing as a standard therapy for the NHS as well as private medicine. They motivated a mandatory Code of Conduct and contributed to Government policy, which now authorities doctors, to delegate patient care to competent healers, provided the doctor remains in charge.
We now have the U.K. HEALERS originating in 1999, which is the lead body for self-regulation of healer practitioners to the general public in the U.K. Their objective is to protect the public, instil confidence and ensure safe, appropriate and effective practice of Spiritual Healing by registered U.K. Healers and to create and maintain a practitioner register.
The plan for providing Spiritual help and Spiritual Healing to all encompasses us locally, nationally and internationally. Many orthodox churches are again re-instating their healing services. We are all part of this Divine Plan in Life.
Doreen Fare.
Article written originally in Spring 2004.
In the year 2000 at our AGM we discussed changing our name to the Bristol District Association of Healers, to widen our catchment area and to take in complementary therapists and to produce an interesting magazine, which would encourage friends and members.