NHS Trust Seeks Church Exorcism After Hospice Staff Report Ghostly Encounters
An NHS trust in Norwich has taken the extraordinary step of calling in Church of England deliverance ministers—commonly known as exorcists—following multiple reports from staff who claimed to have witnessed paranormal activity at a local hospice. The incidents, which included sightings of a spectral 'girl in a red dress', occurred at Priscilla Bacon Lodge, a facility used by Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust to provide specialist end-of-life care.
Historical Site with a Haunted Reputation
The hospice is located near Colman Hospital in Norwich and occupies a site with a poignant history. Until 1975, the building served as the Jenny Lind Children's Hospital, and some staff members have long believed that the spirits of past patients might still linger there. This belief was reinforced by a series of unsettling events that prompted concerns among employees about potential hauntings.
Internal emails obtained by The Telegraph reveal that in 2023, the hospice chaplain contacted the Diocese of Norwich seeking 'advice/support from the deliverance team'. The correspondence described a 'difficult time' at the site and specifically requested 'some holy oil' from Norwich Cathedral to conduct a religious service aimed at calming staff and patients who feared the premises were haunted.
Church Intervention and Official Response
A week after the initial request, follow-up emails indicated that the diocese was in 'conversation with a member of the deliverance team'. While the trust confirmed that a 'blessing of the building' was performed, they denied that an exorcist ever visited the site in person. Officials declined to comment on the specific paranormal activity reported, leaving details of the sightings—such as the apparition of a 'small child in a red dress'—shrouded in mystery.
Priscilla Bacon Lodge has since relocated to new premises in 2023, following these reports. The original building, briefly repurposed as a therapy unit, is now no longer in use, marking the end of an era for a location steeped in both medical and supernatural lore.
The Rise of Deliverance Ministry in Modern Times
This case sheds light on the little-known but formal relationship between the NHS and the Church of England's deliverance ministry. Deliverance ministers are employed by the church to rid places or people of evil spirits, a concept that gained household recognition in the 1970s after the release of the horror film The Exorcist, which depicts a young girl possessed by a demon.
Historically, the clergy held negative views on exorcisms until the 1960s and 1970s, when the practice surged in popularity, partly influenced by Hollywood. In response, new rules were introduced in 1974 to update deliverance ministry procedures, including requirements for bishops to grant special permission for rites, consultation with doctors, and a stipulation that exorcisms 'should be done with the minimum of publicity'.
Further guidelines issued in 2019 emphasise caution, stating: 'Deliverance is an area of ministry where particular caution needs to be exercised, especially when ministering to someone in a disturbed state.' The church advises clergy to involve child welfare specialists or police if a crime is suspected during such interventions.
Church of England's Stance on Spiritual Care
A Church of England spokesman explained: 'Deliverance ministry is a specialist form of pastoral care ... rooted in the church's commitment to healing, wholeness and peace for those experiencing distress, whether physical, mental or spiritual. It is offered in the context of prayer, sacrament and scripture, and is embedded within the wider ministry of healing.'
This incident highlights how traditional spiritual practices continue to intersect with modern healthcare settings, offering solace in situations where conventional medicine may not address all facets of human fear and experience. The trust's actions reflect a pragmatic approach to staff wellbeing, blending historical faith-based solutions with contemporary care protocols in a unique response to paranormal concerns.
