History

Formation of the World Federation of Healing
The World Federation of Healing (WFH) was originally born of the National Federation of Spiritual Healers of Great Britain (NFSH), which had been formed in 1953 to combine the healing endeavours of the many healing associations and individual healers. In the twenty years up to 1972, the NFSH had grown in size to such an extent that it had members in fifty-eight countries of the world. At that time, Harry Edwards was still its President, having been elected to the presidency from the beginning. Dennis Fare was Chairman and Gilbert Anderson was its Administrator.

Early in 1972, Dennis Fare spoke to Harry Edwards and expressed the view that the NFSH was no longer a national healing organisation and consideration should be given to it changing its name and constitution to that of an international organisation. Harry Edwards asked Dennis to put his ideas into a written form. This Dennis did, making the point that such a world federation should really be realistic and forward looking. To do this, the international healing organisation should include into membership all practitioners in the healing arts such as doctors of allopathic medicine, homeopathic doctors, acupuncturists etc. Harry Edwards, in a letter to Dennis, expressed great interest and said he had sent copies of the proposals to the other officers.

A special Council meeting was called in November 1972, to discuss the proposal. All were agreed that a world federation was needed, but a majority was against losing our national identity and losing the prestige it had gained over the twenty years of its existence. Some also felt that the NFSH would not be able to control the national interests of its members. The council did, however, agree that this world organisation was necessary and that the NFSH should sponsor it.

Dennis felt that the title of the new world organisation was extremely important. We could not make it all sections of the healing arts if the word "spiritual" was included. Many members of the NFSH were adamant that if the word "spiritual" was left out they would not participate.

In July 1973, at the age of eighty, Harry Edwards relinquished the Presidency of the NFSH and Dennis Fare was voted in as the new president. Brian Lynch became the new chairman of the NFSH in August. It was in his capacity as Chairman of the NFSH that at the Inaugural Conference, Brian Lynch agreed to steer the meeting into the acceptance of its name and Constitution. It was the Reverend Belding Bingham who, after some discussion, proposed that the name of the organisation should be World Federation of Healing.

On Friday September 5th, 1975 at Westfield College, Hampstead, London, the first Officers and Council were elected as follows:-

President: Dennis Fare, Vice President: Reverend Belding Bingham, Honorary Vice President: Harry Edwards Secretary General: Gilbert Anderson, Treasurer: John Findlay, Spiritual Healer Council Members: Mr J Bouma - Holland, Mr J Sigurgeirrison - Iceland, Mr D Dean - USA, Miss M Butler - UK, Mr M Endicott - UK For representation of other therapies: Mr N Eddie - UK, Dr. L Steiner - USA

At this first Inaugural Conference there were only fourteen countries represented. By 1979 there were members representing thirty different countries.

As reported by Dennis Fare 05.01.1987

Spiritual Healing in this country had been practised 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 among them.

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 1975 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 and 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 have 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 of 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 were autonomous (ruling themselves) but being nationally guided by BAHA Steering Committee. More recently BAHA has become the Alliance of Healing Associations (AHA).

Then in 1984 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 authorises doctors to delegate patient care to competent healers, provided the doctor remains in charge.

We now have 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 Healing by registered U.K. Healers and to create and maintain a practitioner register.

The plan for providing Spiritual help and 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.
THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS A PLAN.

From an article written originally in Spring 2004
Doreen Fare
Bristol District Association of Healers