'...that was the start of my healing ministry' Photo: Lawrie Cate / flickr CC.
Towards wholeness
Maureen Anderson discusses the Friends Fellowship of Healing
In 1993 I developed a virus, which led to a diagnosis of ME. I was desperately tired all day and ached. I saw an advert in the Friend for people to offer healing in postal prayer groups. I got involved and that was the start of my healing ministry. About five years later I was able to attend the healing group attached to Glasgow Quakers, some twenty-five miles away.
After doing distant healing there was the opportunity to have contact healing. My ME did not immediately improve. I would feel rough for a couple of days and then feel so much better, but six weeks later I would have the virus, in lesser form, again. Another healing would allow me to feel better again until, after a couple of years, I was back to full strength.
It was then that I decided to train as a spiritual healer and qualified, after some hesitation, in 2005. Since then I have received healing for a sore back. Chiropractor fees cost the earth but a fifteen-minute contact healing did the trick and I have had no more bother. I mainly do distant healing, where we only have names, but, until recently, was involved as a spiritual healer in contact healing, where the person is present. Healings, where cures resulted, did take place.
The Friends Fellowship of Healing is one of the largest special interest groups recognised by Britain Yearly Meeting. It has become, over the years, a place where Friends interested in having a healing ministry or who wish to have healing can find a welcome. It also welcomes new members.
The Fellowship was set up in 1935 after some Quakers in London and Letchworth Meeting got together to discuss spiritual healing and invited Friends attending Yearly Meeting to be in touch if they were interested in exploring healing ministries. It was an aspect of Jesus’ teaching that seemed to be sadly neglected by many churches. The response was overwhelming. So it was that the Friends Fellowship of Healing was set up.
The founder members travelled, held conferences and wrote pamphlets. What emerged was healing groups attached to Meetings for Worship and usually held of an evening. The names of those who were sick or dying would be held in the Light in an atmosphere of worship. The object was not to effect cures, but rather to help toward a condition of wholeness, where mind, body and spirit were in harmony. Initially, a newsletter was circulated to keep the groups in touch with one another. This has developed into our magazine Towards Wholeness.
After the second world war there was renewed interest, particularly to have a house where loving care would offer help and comfort. Claridge House in Surrey was obtained in 1954, serving the south of England, and in 1971 Lattendales in Cumbria was purchased, serving the north of England. The latter was closed a number of years ago, because of the cost of maintenance. Claridge House still operates as a place of healing, with related courses available to all.
In 1949 postal prayer groups were set up to accommodate healers who were geographically isolated. A member of each group acts as secretary, gathering new names and updates and regularly circulating these to their group. They have their own newsletter. Healers normally make no charge for their service.
