Edwards, Harry (1893-1976)

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Edwards, Harry (1893-1976)

British spiritual healer (born Henry James Edwards on May 29, 1893) who also did much to publicize the subject of spiritual healing. He treated patients directly at his Healing Sanctuary in Britain or on the platform at public meetings, and also by "absent healing" through correspondence.

Edwards was born on May 29, 1893, in Islington, London, and grew up in various sections of the metropolitan area. At the age of 14 he was apprenticed to a printer and his seven years of service were up just in time for him to join the army in 1914. He was sent to India the following year and for a time worked in a construction project in Persia (Iran). While there he had his first experiences as a healer, as he was the one in charge of handing all of the minor work-related injuries. However, even the few medicines he had available led to his gaining a local reputation as a healer of note.

He returned to England in 1921 and established himself as a printer and was actively involved in local politics. In 1936, in the wake of the untimely death of a nephew, he visited a Spiritualist meeting. Years ago he had on one occasion attended such a gathering, but it had made little impression. This time, however, he was intrigued and began to attend a development class from which he emerged as a medium.

He and his wife soon formed a home circle they called the Fellowship of Spiritual Service. Told by a medium that he was to become a healer, he followed instructions to concentrate upon the recovery of the next account of a sick person described to him. It happened to be of a person with tuberculosis who experienced a recovery after Edwards' intervention. Edwards was just becoming known as a healer when World War II began. He joined the Home Guard. His home was destroyed during the bombing of London, and Edwards relocated to Surrey, eventually giving up his printing business and purchasing a large house, Burrows Lea, which became the sight of his Spiritual Healing Sanctuary.

Edwards operated as a Spiritualist healer, and believed that the late Louis Pastuer and Lord Lister worked through him from the spirit world. He was in great demand for the rest of his life and frequently gave lectures and led healing services throughout Great Britain.

He received some two thousand letters daily, many from patients in distant countries. His records indicated close to a 80 percent recovery rate dealing with such diseases as cancer, tuberculosis, arthritis and epilepsy, although, only a minority of these cases were documented to the level required to verify the healing claimed.

Edwards worked closely with physicians. He believed that spiritual healing power passed through him with the assistance of discarnate spirit helpers, and also claimed to have traveled outside his body to visit distant patients. He authored a number of books and published a monthly magazine The Spiritual Healer from his home.

Edwards died December 7, 1976, but his healing work has been continued at his Burrows Lea sanctuary by Joan and Ray Branch, whom he designated as his successors. The Branches have stated that they feel Edwards is still with them in their work of healing. The journal The Spiritual Healer continues publication from the Healer Publishing Co., Ltd., Burrows Lea, Shere, Guildford, Surrey G5 9QG.