Is St. Benets Healing Centre modeled on a real institution?
SH: Yes, St. Benet’s is modeled on the St. Marylebone Healing Centre, which is part of the St. Marylebone parish church in central London. Christopher Hamel Cooke, now retired, is the rector who founded the Centre in the 1980s. I went to see him lecture and was inspired to create St. Benet’s. St. Marylebone is in the heart of medical land–the parish covers a neighborhood filled with hospitals and doctors’ offices. Given its location, it is very appropriate that this particular church focuses on the complimentary medicine of the healing ministry. Q: An important distinction is made in this novel between healing and curing. Will Carter be cured? Could you talk about the differences between the two concepts? SH: One can argue that no one can be totally cured since no one is totally perfect. One has to aim for perfection, but no one really gets there. However, healing is possible. And the ministry of healing takes a holistic approach to health, covering the body, mind, and spirit, with ea
