Why the National Federation of Spiritual Healers (NFSH), now The Healing Trust, came into being in 1954.

The Archbishop referred to the many apparent non-Christian healers making headlines in the national press in recent years. John Britnell who was then President and founder of The Essex Healers’ Association (EHA), had a ten-year plan to set up many Healing Associations then form a National British Federation of Healers, these plans had to be escalated. John’s new proposed organisation would speak for healing as a whole. A national body concerned only with healing, administered only by healers.

Following on from the Archbishops talk on “The Ministry of Healing” it took until October 1953, for The Archbishops’ Commission into Divine Healing to be set up and have it’s first meeting on 27 October 1953. This is when the fun started; the members discussed the theological basis of their work, considering such questions as what constituted the will of God. Some members said that pain and suffering were facts of existence and part of God’s plan for man, while others argued that the work to relieve suffering would be undermined if it was not in cooperation with God’s will. Most of the meeting was devoted to organizing future work. Several committees were set up to investigate different issues. Should they write to the British Medical Association (BMA) asking for help in investigating and reporting on instances of spiritual healing that doctors were involved in etc. The report of this Commission was published eventually late in 1958!

John Britnell looked forward to the day when there would be a National Society.  Healers must unite to achieve professional status. If this were to be done there must be an organisation which could speak for them. They hoped it might be possible to provide an insurance cover which would protect patients against negligence.  The lack of such a scheme gave rise to one of the most frequent attacks launched on unqualified practitioners. It was difficult to foresee a time when healers would be able to sit professional examinations; but if this were not possible, they could at least do their best to ensure that those setting themselves up as healers were of suitable character and background. Gradually there began to emerge a skeleton of the type of association needed.

John favoured the name British Association of Spiritual Healers. Gordon Turner pointed out that these initials spelt BASH. Had he known some of the wrangles that were to occur in succeeding years, he might not have thought this inappropriate!  It was Gordon who suggested the name “National Federation of Spiritual Healers” which was quickly accepted. Gordon also recommended that they should consult barrister Percy Wilson to draw up a draft constitution.  In the event, much of the work was carried out by his son Laurie, also an eminent barrister.

John Britnell formed the Essex Healers’ Association in 1948. EHA very quickly became the largest healing association in the U.K., mainly because John allowed healers from all over the U.K. to join, hence the need to have a nationwide association. In winter 1951-52 EHA, produced there first issue of a newsletter called ‘Healers’ Journal’ which featured Harry Edwards on the front page under the heading “A Code of True Values”.  In the New Year Honours list of 1952, John was awarded the British Empire Medal for his work in setting up an efficient First Aid training scheme within the General Post Office (GPO). These were the first awards made after Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne, although the awards were in her father’s name. Sadly, in 1953 John was medically discharged from work at the G.P.O., due to thrombosis.

In April 1954, Harry Edwards commented in his magazine “The Spiritual Healer” on a letter sent from a reader in Rochdale, she was worried about what would happen if spiritual healers were officially recognised by the State and incorporated within the National Health Service (NHS).  Harry said that what was “desirable, is that there could be some form of organization that would unite all those who practise spiritual healing, whatever body they belong to, in a general way. This would enable healers to profit by the discussion of experiences dealing with specific diseases. To see if there are any common symptomatic signs of recovery noted with particular diseases. Also, to draw the existing differing ways of thought into agreement upon the fundamental principles that govern spiritual healing. That spiritual healing will ever become part of State enterprise is beyond our dreams.  We can, however, hope for State recognition and that is very different from State control.”

Finally on Saturday 5^th June 1954 after over 18 months of discussions with many people, a meeting was held at 33 Eastwood Road, Goodmayes, Ilford, Essex between John Britnell - Healer and President of EHA; Gordon Turner - Healer and Founder of Surrey and South London Healers’ Association; William Prince - Healer, Gordon Turner’s friend and house mate; and Fred Doyle - Healer, EHA Treasurer. Here officially, the National Federation of Spiritual Healers (NFSH) was inaugurated. Minutes were taken and recorded and after the meeting John Britnell as agreed by all present, wrote to Harry Edwards asking him to be the President of The N.F.S.H. Harry replied in the affirmative.

The head office was to be at John Britnell’s home 33 Eastwood Road, Goodmayes, Ilford, Essex. John had been living at Marie Peacock’s home since a bombing raid during the war. Marie was John’s assistant and co-worker for healing and running of the EHA and now the NFSH. Marie was cured of an intractable disease by spiritual healing in 1934 and has since dedicated her life to helping others who are sick.  She had allowed John to build a large shed within the garden to run EHA from and now to run the NFSH. It was also used as a Healing Sanctuary known at the time as “The Eastwood Road Sanctuary, Ilford.” Marie worked for over 10 years with John Britnell until his death in December 1957.

The formal announcement of the start was reported in Psychic News on 24 July 1954: Here’s the full report: -

“National Federation of Spiritual Healers’ will protect rights of healers.

A National Federation of Spiritual Healers has been formed with Harry Edwards as its President. The announcement was made by Gordon Turner after John Britnell’s demonstration of healing sponsored by the Surrey & South London Healers Association at the Alliance Hall, Westminster on Saturday 17 July. The Federation was the outcome of recent discussions between representatives of over 500 individual healers, he declared. It would protect the rights of both healers and patients, thus satisfying the growing feeling throughout the movement that the work did need such protection. The time was propitious, particularly in view of investigations into the subject of divine healing. Immediately after the meeting at which the federation was formed, a letter was sent to Harry Edwards inviting him to accept the presidency. He accepted. Healers from at least 24 counties were included in the new organisation and membership was already numbered in the hundreds. “As a result of the formation of this Federation healers will have the opportunity of speaking to the public with one voice,” said Turner. Surrey & South London Healers felt it an honour that the announcement should be made from their platform, and the meeting was in fact organised for that very purpose, as well as for healing. The response was already remarkable, he stressed. Yorkshire having formed a county healers association of its own had immediately allied itself with the new national body. “We are urging all healers in every county of the British Isles to link themselves together in county associations and through the county associations with the National Federation,” said Turner. The speaker pointed out that the formation of the new body would give countless people who otherwise have remained without it the opportunity of getting healing conferred. It announced that besides Harry Edwards, two other officers have been appointed: John Britnell of Essex Healers’ Association is Chairman and Gordon Turner is Vice Chairman and Public Relations Officer. The demonstration of healing by John Britnell, who was assisted by Marie Peacock, produced some excellent results in spite of the sparsity of attendance.”

Author:  Charlie Kennedy, Historian for The Healing Trust