International Christian Science Nursing Conference

On February 25, 2021, the first online International Christian Science Nursing Conference (ICSNC) took place. Over three hundred Christian Science nurses, from fifteen countries, participated. The conference was organized by the Christian Science Nursing Network (CSNN), a US-based organization that supports the activity of Christian Science nurses worldwide.  Alistair Budd, a Christian Science nurse employed by Whitehaven Trust, currently serves on the board of CSNN and helped organize the conference.

The one-day ICSNC included a keynote talk by Jennifer Ewell, a Christian Science nurse from Ohio.  A presentation entitled “Zoom around the world” featured interviews with Christian Science nurses from seven  countries on four continents.  Two members of the Christian Science Board of Directors, Keith Wommack and Barbara Fife, addressed the conference.   Alistair Budd gave the concluding talk.  Many participants have expressed gratitude for the conference, stating that it helped deepen their understanding of, and commitment to, their ministry. Others stated that the conference, in bringing together so many Christian Science nurses from around the world, helped them to feel part of a wider Christian Science nursing community, committed to providing care and support for their fellow Christian Scientists.

An in-person ICSNC, organized by CSNN, is expected to take place at Cedars Camps in Lebanon, Missouri, USA, in August 2022.

Maintenance Work at Springfield House

With six guest bedrooms, a day room, two sitting rooms and dining room – not mention all the ‘behind the scenes’ areas and offices for Whitehaven Trust, Springfield House is a large building.  Keeping it in good condition is vital to the comfort and security of our guests, visitors and staff. 

Between November 2019 and March 2020 we had some significant building work completed.

Firstly, the roof was renewed.  Every tile was lifted and the felt underneath replaced.  Most of the tiles were in good condition and could be reused – a saving for our budget and the environment.

If you’ve visited Springfield House, you’ll know that we have beautiful gardens.  We have lawns that appear to flow into the field beyond. 

We have flowers that give colour from early Spring to late autumn. 

We have sheltered seating areas. 

What we didn’t have was a straightforward way of getting from the front garden to the back. 

That too was remedied last winter when a new access path was created at the side of the building.

Transforming this

into this.

And greatly improving the drainage on that side of the building.

Whitehaven Trust is extremely grateful to the donors who made this work possible.

Appointment of Alistair Budd as Interim Christian Science Nursing Manager

We are delighted to welcome Alistair Budd as our interim Christian Science Nursing Manager. Alistair’s ministry as a Christian Science nurse began when he trained at Hawthorne House and Whitehaven (at the original Bathford site). Since then he has worked as a Christian Science nurse in the UK, Germany, Switzerland and the USA in facility, school , and domiciliary settings.  He has been employed at Springfield House as a Christian Science nurse supervisor since May 2019.

Alistair is committed to supporting the next generation of Christian Science nurses, using his experience to provide on-the-job Christian Science nurses training. Alistair is a member of the Christian Science Society in Cardiff and is currently serving as a board member of the Christian Science Nursing Network, a US-based organization which supports the practice of Christian Science nurses worldwide.   

International Christian Science Nurses Conference

In early September I flew from Heathrow to St. Louis (via Atlanta) to attend the International
Christian Science Nurses Conference (ICSNC). These biennial conferences are organized
by the Christian Science Nursing Network, a US-based organization that supports the public practice of CS nursing worldwide.

You can read my full report on the conference here.

Alistair

2019 Christian Science Nursing Association (UK) Annual Meeting

On Saturday October 5, 2019, four employees of Whitehaven Trust drove to a hotel in central Birmingham to attend the AGM of the Christian Science Nursing Association (UK).

You can read the full report here