info@acornchristian.org
Meet the Team
Revd Dr Russ Parker - Director
Rev Dr Russ Parker has been Director of Acorn Christian Healing Foundation since 1995, which exists to resource and educate the church in the Christian Healing Ministry. Part of Russ’s contribution as Director has been to develop training materials.
Russ is the author of a number of books which include: “Healing Dreams”, “Healing Death’s Wounds”; “Free to Fail”, “Forgiveness is Healing”, and “The Wild Spirit” and “Dream Stories” “Healing Wounded History,” “Healing Wounded History”, workbook and his latest book, an anthology of prayer poems for public and private use “Wild Spirit of the Living God.”
Russ travels extensively around the UK and abroad, lecturing and teaching in issues connected with the Christian Healing and Healthcare, Reconciliation and Church Transformation.
Revd Elizabeth Knifton - Chaplain
Elizabeth has been Chaplain of Acorn Christian Healing Foundation since October 2005. Coming from a Health care background, she started Nursing in 1970 qualifying as an SRN, SCM. Elizabeth was ordained in the Church of England in 1997. She has an Advanced Diploma in Theology and Pastoral Studies. Her passion is to bring the healing love of Christ to a broken world through Listening, Healing and Reconciliation.
Jacky Wright - South East
Jacky has been an Acorn Tutor since 2004, leading both locally based and residential courses at WHC; she joined the staff at Acorn in April 2012. She is on the staff team in her local Anglican church in Tonbridge, Kent where she also serves as a Reader and has run the Acorn Healing Training Course, prayer ministry and small group training over a number of years.
Sarah Buckwell - South West & South Wales
Sarah is based on the Isle of Wight and coordinates Acorn’s regional work throughout the South West and South Wales.
Helen Walley - Central England
Helen is based in Lichfield and as well as being the regional staff member for the Midlands, she is also a qualified accredited counsellor and supervisor. Helen is a lay reader in her local church and has worked in a pastoral capacity in churches, leading and training prayer ministry teams and working for 4 years as a volunteer in a hospital chaplaincy team.
Pat Dale - East and North East of England
Pat is based in Stamford, Lincolnshire and is the regional staff member for the east and north east of England, from Norwich to Newcastle. She joined the staff team in 1998 while living in London after a career of 25 years in Social Work. She transferred her region from the south of England when she moved to Stamford 4 years ago. In addition to being involved in her local church, Pat offers Spiritual Direction locally.
To be confirmed - North West
Contact Whitehill Chase Office
Maureen Wilson - Scotland
As Acorn’s Regional Co-ordinator for Scotland, Maureen Wilson is based in Nairn in the North of Scotland. An ordained minister in the United Reformed Church, she works as a P/T Chaplain in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness. She is currently involved in a listening pilot study within GP surgeries in Inverness. As part of Acorn in Scotland’s vision for developing a greater listening culture within the NHS, Maureen is committed to an ongoing listening training programme for staff within NHS Highland not only to resource them for their demanding work, but also to provide a greater understanding of the role of listening in the delivery of spiritual care.
Contact Maureen or visit Acorn in Scotland's website.
Fiona Gray - Northern Ireland
Fiona joined Acorn in 2010 and is based in Larne, Co. Antrim. She is a qualified nurse and specialises in the care of older people and, more recently, in the care of people living with a Dementia.
Barbara Oakley - Schools' Coordinator
Barbara Oakley is based in Shropshire and coordinates the schools and young peoples’ work throughout the UK. One of Barbara's responsibilities is to keep in touch with Acorn-trained Schools’ Tutors. She is also working on expanding the schools’ work into primary schools. She has a teaching background and has taught Religious Education in a wide range of secondary schools, as well as being responsible for the pastoral care of students. As a clergy wife she has years of experience in caring for the pastoral needs of people from a variety of different backgrounds.
