Has medical science made prayer for healing

once wrote a monograph titled ÔWill Hospital Replace the Church?Õ1 He pointed out the unique and vital role of the church in meeting the spiritual needs of hospital patients. Three decades on hardly anyone would argue with his view. Even the Department of Health recognises it2. Now the question is: Does the church also have a role in the relief of bodily and mental disease? It may be argued that health should not be divided up in this way. But there is a real sense in which the answer has to be ÕyesÕ. I like WilkinsonÕs Bible-based definition of health as Ôa state of wholeness and fulfilment of manÕs being, considered as an undivided entity.Õ3 But for clarity of thought I return to the question: Does the church have a role in the relief of physical symptoms? If it does, it must be admitted that on the whole it does little in the way of exercising it. Very little is reported, i