Rising Interest in Deliverance Ministry Among Church of England Clergy
The Church of England has observed a growing curiosity among individuals seeking clergy assistance for “deliverance,” a longstanding aspect of pastoral care aimed at alleviating concerns over evil influences and spiritual unrest. This interest has captured attention following increased anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr. Anne Richards, a national adviser on deliverance for the Church, shared insights in interviews with The Times, noting a wide range of inquiries. These include fears related to grief, general uneasiness, and concerns stemming from occult practices like Ouija board usage.
Richards highlighted that the rise in requests coincides with the period of isolation during the pandemic, which heightened anxieties for many individuals confined at home. In some cases, odd noises in older buildings were later attributed to ordinary causes.
The Church’s deliverance ministry is not perceived as an isolated ritual but rather a cautious, accountable process guided by bishops’ pastoral oversight and safeguarding protocols.
According to Church guidelines, diocesan deliverance teams are instructed to collaborate with professionals such as medical practitioners, psychologists, and psychiatrists, adhering to safeguarding standards.
Church officials clarify that most inquiries are addressed with reassurance and prayer rather than dramatic exorcism. Senior figures within the Church of England described formal exorcisms as exceedingly rare.
Retired bishop Rt Rev Dominic Walker shared with The Times that over his career, he performed only six exorcisms. He emphasized that most cases involved psychological or psychiatric concerns better addressed through counseling and clinical care, supplemented by gentle prayer and pastoral support.
Clergy involved in deliverance ministry often approach cases with discernment rather than certainty, focusing on exclusion rather than assumption of possession.
In broader discussions, psychiatrist Richard Gallagher is frequently mentioned for his perspective that, after excluding psychiatric causes, certain cases he encountered seemed best explained as diabolical or paranormal. His book, Demonic Foes, has kept the topic relevant, especially in Catholic exorcism circles like the International Association of Exorcists.
Anglican advisers emphasize that no single indicator is conclusive in determining the need for formal deliverance. However, specific features drawn from biblical and pastoral accounts, considered collectively and after excluding medical explanations, may warrant further consideration.
These include a strong attraction to Christian prayer or holy places with an apparent inability to engage with them, marked changes in speech or behavior, unusual physical agitation, and persistent threats of self-harm.
Practitioners underscore that the majority of mental distress and self-harm cases lack a spiritual cause and require clinical intervention.
Rev. Jason Bray, an Anglican priest, recounted his early experience in deliverance ministry to The Telegraph. He described an unsettling event during his early ordained life when his parish house’s atmosphere notably changed after prayer and blessing.
Bray, who later pursued formal diocesan training, reported unexplained cold sensations and a persistent feeling of hostility in one room, alongside a vivid impression of a presence that left him visibly shaken.
He shared with The Telegraph: “I got a clear mental picture of what it looked like: it was a man, about my height, wearing a mask, with piercing grey eyes, staring at me with unbridled hostility.”
Following a blessing by a senior cleric, Bray noted a complete change in the atmosphere, which visitors later confirmed without prior knowledge of the events. A local warden remarked about the house’s construction disturbing a Roman burial ground.
This experience convinced Bray that some situations merit consideration and that calm prayer can restore peace. He cited cases ranging from sightings of Roman soldiers in York to recurring appearances of a figure at a staircase’s foot.
Anglican deliverance ministers advocate addressing such experiences through a combination of prayer, discernment, safeguarding oversight, and careful consideration of medical or psychiatric explanations.
Bray told The Telegraph: “That’s the nature of this job: you can’t verify anything. I’m not in the business of trying to explain the unexplainable, but I have seen enough to be open to the idea that places really can be haunted. My job is to pray, and always to reassure people. There is a lot of evil in our world, but I fully believe that good will triumph eventually.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
