Burrswood is a place like no other in the UK. It combines the principles of Christian care and healing with high standards in modern medical care. It is my privilege to be part of the Burrswood team, and in this article I hope to share something of how this unique environment came about and what it has to offer; but first, something of my own story.

How did I get here?

During my medical training, the exposure to general practice and psychiatry confirmed in me an interest to practise in an environment where I could deal with patients as whole people, not just diseased bodies or minds.[1]

General practice seemed to fit the bill, but six months as a GP principal in South Wales ruined me. Everyone wanted to see me; it was my wife and children who rarely did. 15 house-calls per day for the two man practice was par for the course; on a bad day it could be 25.

I survived five years. There were good times; I found ways to pray with patients, and my Christian partner and I built strong links with a local church. But I became frazzled. A fright with a pigmented lesion on my own back (it wasn’t what you’re thinking) was the trigger for serious re-evaluation, and I made good my escape. After a while I was recruited by the local hospice and began a love affair with palliative medicine. At last, everyone has a real problem; and they are filled with gratitude for, well, so little. Just a bit more comfort, a bit more dignity; a little more ‘life to their days’. Furthermore, spiritual care was integral to the whole approach.[2] Gradually I moved to full time, then to a more senior position in London – and then a dear colleague asked why, if I was so keen to integrate spiritual care into what we were providing, wasn’t I applying for the directorship of Burrswood? Good question. I applied and was appointed. What had I let myself in for?

Dorothy Kerin

I shall begin with a little history about the founder of Burrswood. The early part of the 20th century was a time of considerable spiritual blessing within the church. The Pentecostal movement experienced tremendous growth, both in the USA (eg the Azusa Street Revival in 1906) and in this country (eg the Welsh Revival in 1904). What is perhaps less recognised is that new life was also blossoming within the more traditional churches; and this brings us to the founder of Burrswood, Dorothy Kerin - who was an Anglo-Catholic.

Dorothy was a remarkable child, and grew to be a very Christ-centred teenager; but her later teenage years were tragically affected by tuberculosis. Indeed, by the night of her healing in 1912 (when she was 22) she was sufficiently ill for her family and friends (17 of them) to be gathered around her bedside in expectation of her imminent demise. God, however, had other plans, and led Dorothy into a remarkable vision during which she later described seeing heavenly beings, culminating in an angel who took her hands in his and said, ‘Dorothy, your sufferings are over. Get up and walk.’

And that is exactly what she did, for the first time in five years. In all her subsequent ministry she insisted that her immediate obedience to God’s clear command was of paramount importance; furthermore, that obedience will always be the key to God’s blessing. She asked for food and was given something sloppy and appropriate, but responded to that with disdain and descended two flights of stairs to make herself a ‘real meal of meat and pudding’ – which she took back upstairs and ate before an incredulous audience.

The doctor was summoned the next morning and came prepared to certify her death. She answered the door looking bright and lively instead of wasted and emaciated. When he had watched her run up two flights of stairs, he held his head in his hands and said, ‘Great God, what is the meaning of it all?’ That has always struck me as being a good question.

Shortly after this very remarkable event, she received a commission in another dream. She was told ‘in your prayers and faith many sick shall you heal; comfort the sorrowing and give faith to the faithless’ – a true whole person approach. But first came more than a decade of preparation under the watchful eye of her spiritual director, Rev Dr Langford-James.

Burrswood

In 1929 her ministry began with the opening of a home of healing, St Raphael’s, in a rented house in Ealing. Before long this proved too small and she acquired (very much by faith) other properties more appropriate to her demands. This process culminated in her faith-purchase of Burrswood in 1948 - a mansion in the Kent countryside, quite run down from being requisitioned by the military during the war. She set about developing it as a Christian home of healing.

She believed that professional nursing care was important, given that a 100% immediate miraculous recovery rate just doesn’t happen, and none would claim it. Dorothy recognised that healing comes in many ways, and many need good, loving medical care as well as prayer – without in any way losing the cutting edge of faith. More of the theology later; for now, suffice it to say that fidelity to Dorothy’s threefold commission and the harmonious marriage of ministry and medicine remain the keys to the Christian ministry at Burrswood. We have perceived that God, in his grace, calls us to continue in this ministry of prayer and care.

Theological underpinnings

1. Prayer, faith and obedience

Dorothy believed that Jesus is quite as able to heal now as when he walked the earth. But she saw very clearly the necessity of prayer, faith and obedience, as well as a willingness to embrace the cross, on the part of those called to exercise this ministry. There is a price to be paid. Jesus’ healing follows not formula but our faithful obedience to him; our inclination is to look for the formula, because we are busy and it’s easier. But we need to be caught up in Jesus, having the heart to lay aside the things of lesser importance to gain the pearl of great price:[3] these are the necessary things. I fear lest we try to walk in Christ’s power without appreciating that we have to die to self, and be subsumed into Christ’s purposes for us. But that is the way to becoming channels of God’s power.

2. A ‘resting’ theology

I once knew a wonderful old saintly lady of God, much used by him, who was well into her tenth decade. She started to fail, and much prayer for healing was made for her. I couldn’t understand why, and couldn’t join in, beyond praying for a peaceful death. Somehow fervent prayer for physical healing at that age seems inappropriate. We do after all remain encumbered with the reality of 100% mortality.

So, in our praying, we must give room for God to be God. This case illustrates that sometimes it isn’t appropriate to pray for physical healing (the lady died peacefully, with great joy and faith, by the way).

We have to ask ourselves: is there ever some grace in suffering, some real benefit to be gained? Or is all suffering of the devil? Many testify that it was when God laid them aside for a while that they saw things from the eternal perspective. So how can we ensure that we don’t try to force God to short-circuit a work he is doing in someone’s life? Disease can do two things; it can prevent the servants of God from fulfilling his purpose in their lives, or it can enable change, pointing his servant towards him.

A patient of mine who was diagnosed with breast cancer said that when she was diagnosed, replacing the kitchen units became of no importance, whereas before it had consumed her. Her perspective had changed and she became like a child to the Lord. We have at Burrswood at the moment a patient with a neurodegenerative disease who testifies to how his life has become infinitely more centred around God as a consequence of his illness; people see it and come to him for counsel. It mirrors Paul’s assertion that when he is weak, then he is strong.[4]

Dorothy espoused a ‘resting theology’, a position that recognised the problem. Broadly, it places God’s will as of first importance. Our joy and peace is to be found in his will for us. This is not simply an ‘if it be according to thy will’ disclaimer; it is deeper than that. It encourages identification with the purposes and will of God, and a glad and willing placing of ourselves or the one we pray for into his hands, in rest.

There are times when we just know that we must pray with authority, and in a clear direction. Then we follow the Spirit’s leading and pray as he shows. Thus only this morning I received a telephone call from a patient in terrible spiritual suffering; I knew I was to pray authoritatively and did so. She rang back two hours later greatly relieved, by God’s grace.

Nonetheless, where we are unclear, there is peace and wisdom in bringing ourselves and those for whom we pray to that place where we tell God that we only wish to be in his will. Sometimes when I am asked to pray for someone well advanced in years, and I am not sure how to pray, I simply pray that nothing might prevent that person fulfilling all God’s purposes for them; no dark force, and no disease, that they might hear the wonderful words of affirmation, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’ It is a position of rest.

How it all works in practice

Burrswood is a fully registered hospital. We have 35 beds and take all manner of non-acute conditions except mobile patients with confusion (there are many doors and ponds!) We have significant expertise in chronic fatigue syndrome and allied conditions, which respond well to the whole person approach. We also have palliative care expertise and take post-operative patients, along with those who have complex conditions requiring respite care or rehabilitation beyond the capacity of a nursing home. The team comprises three doctors (one full time), nurses, counsellors, chaplains and physiotherapists. Confidentiality is held within the team as a whole, and patients sign to consent to that; hence communication between team members is good. There are regular twice weekly multidisciplinary team meetings to assess each patient’s progress and needs.

Patients are assessed on admission by the doctor, who formulates the initial treatment plan. The history includes the spiritual, and we ascertain the attitude of the patient toward the Christian faith. Unless there is a contraindication, prayer is likely to be offered at that first point of contact. The key is to determine receptivity and hunger. One cannot feed someone who is not hungry and the whole team knows the necessity of sensitivity. But the Burrswood environment often stimulates spiritual curiosity and hunger; so if there is none to begin with, we wait, and we ‘win our spurs’ through our care. I estimate that 40% of patients come without faith, but many of them start a journey whilst here. It is a place where God’s presence is strangely tangible. One taxi driver, when asked whether he knew Burrswood by a new patient he was delivering, said, ‘Oh yes. I often take people up there. Listen, lady; I reckon if God’s anywhere – he’s there!’ But we don’t presume upon God; we take care to keep Christ central, to pray, to honour him in every way we can, and never to give the impression that we are the healers. Dorothy always said that she was ‘just a little bit of pipe’ – a channel to bring God to others; we echo that.

The medical care is conventional. Patients can be referred by their medical practitioners (using our standard form), through another non-medical professional or by their own request (in the latter two cases we will always ask for a medical referral form to be completed).

Most people accept chaplaincy input, geared to their level. Counselling, which is part of the package for some patients, is delivered by Christian professionals; often we find that it is the counsellor who teases out the nature of the problems, and opens the way for prayer ministry before the patient leaves. All patients are free to attend services in the chapel, including the twice weekly healing services (which are also open to outside visitors).

Whilst faith is not an absolute prerequisite for every staff member, the majority of senior and clinical post-holders are Christians. Those who are not (wherever they work) declare their full sympathy with the identity of Burrswood as a place of Christian ministry.

There is an attached guesthouse, so relatives can stay if they wish – and benefit from the environment without having to be involved in the practical care. Others also use the guesthouse for retreats, holidays and other activities.

Those who can afford to pay do so (though the rate is subsidised to some degree for all). Those who cannot afford to pay apply for bursary assistance, which is covered by part of our fundraising. We try to be generous, believing that this is the heart of Christ. God is certainly faithful: he has kept us thus far. When is it ever different in a work of God?

The significance of Burrswood

Our experience shows that Christian whole person care works – and wonderfully well! Once upon a time, there were many Roman Catholic healthcare facilities, and people went there even if these were less ‘smart’ than other private hospitals, because they knew the ethos behind the care would ensure its quality. I am convinced that there is no need for us to hide our light under anything.

But it is not just about ethos; God moves in healing power. Prayer can be offered alongside truly loving care; the latter often opens the way for the former. Sick people are open. Strangely, they come with few expectations. We never tell them God is going to make them walk again; we just tell them we rarely find that prayer for healing is unanswered. God does things his way. Often deep things within the psyche get healed first, and then Christ’s healing spreads from there through the whole being. Whatever the mechanism, people get profoundly touched.

Of course, Burrswood is unique; one cannot duplicate it easily. It is far too labour-intensive, far too expensive to provide, and it charges. The challenge is to find ways of daring to dance to this different drum in other healthcare environments. The challenge is to form teams under Christ, who learn to work and love together, recognising that there will be spiritual opposition, and that the relationships will be tested. The challenge is to be willing to accept financial disadvantage for the sake of Christ.

We need to encourage one another in this. The Burrswood team hope to work together with others to set up a website specifically to enable people to share ideas and experiences, to encourage one another in new initiatives. We’ll be posting progress on our own website, www.burrswood.org.uk, which also has a lot more information about the work here. We welcome visitors to Burrswood, and there is the opportunity for attachments for those of all disciplines – write to me in the first instance if you are interested.

One thing we know; as we walk as Christ’s disciples, he walks with us to bless - hallelujah!

Dr Michael Harper is Chief Executive of Burrswood. His role also includes medical work and he is a reader in the chaplaincy team.