The Church of England is promoting the healing power of prayer and exorcism, writes Amanda Castleman.

Practical guidelines will help clergy set up healing ministries, designed to work alongside the NHS and modern medicine.

A report published last week cited the gospel's imperative to "heal the sick". The Rt Rev Richard Harries, Bishop of Oxford, welcomed the extensive study.

"It's a tremendously useful report," he says. "There hasn't been a study on healing in the Church for 20 years or more. It's harkening back to the roots of the Church. In the New Testament, there are innumerable stories of healing. But I don't see it as a substitute for modern scientific medicine, which is also a work of God. "In our diocese - which covers Oxford, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire - there is quite a lot in the way of healing services, specifically laying on of hands and anointing with oil. Of course, the sick are prayed for every week."

The region also has a Ministry of Deliverance, which helps drive away evil spirits. "Exorcism has a rather spooky sound. We prefer to call it deliverance," the bishop explains.

"The ministry is comprised of priests experienced in such matters, and medical professionals who help distinguish between psychological illness and possession."

The Rev Hugh Kent is the diocesan advisor on Christian healing. He says: "Jesus said to teach the gospel and heal the sick. This can involve visiting the sick, offering prayers, special services, or a team of people on hand to pray with anyone who has a need. "Anointing with oil used to be concerned with last rites, but is now more widely used. I particularly encourage people going into hospital for operations to come forward and be anointed. It gives them assurance that God is with them."

Christian healing is not at odds with modern medicine. "It's not either/or, it's both/and," he explains. "God gives us skills and scientific medicine - and we can pray to Him." However, like the report, Mr Kent is dubious about the homsespun rituals of the crystal-gazing, aura-reading crowd. "I am rather suspicious of the New Age stuff in the Church scene. People can become too focused on someone, they can be sucked into a particular way of doing things. "Jesus Christ is the healer. We are simply the means by which His healing grace comes to people. Someone once compared it to drainpipes," he chuckles.

The process is not simple, as the Bishop of Reading, the Rt Rev Dominic Walker, points out. "We are not simply curing physical symptoms, but healing the whole person," he says. "Sometimes this involves counselling, psychotherapy and psychiatry. Sometimes they need prayer and tablets."

He helped write the mammoth 429-page document, along with other senior clergy, theologians, psychiatrists and doctors. "We also looked at complementary and alternative medicine, how parishes can stay up-to-the-minute.

"Some of it's sheer bunkum, some clearly looks at the whole person, relaxes them. We haven't rubbished any therapy," he adds. "We've simply offered guidelines and stress good practice." Mr Kent hopes the report will encourage healing. He says: "Unfortunately, there's not enough of it. So many people are hurting. They need healing for physical, emotional, relationship and bereavement difficulties."

Medicine doesn't always have the cure, he says. "If you are hurting, you're bound to try to get release. Sometimes doctors cannot help."

Vicars are warned not to try freelance exorcism at home - an appointed specialist should be recruited.

The bishop, who oversees deliverance in the diocese, agrees that such situations must be handled delicately and professionally. An exorcism is not, he stresses, a violent wresting with devils. "That's pure Hollywood," he laughs. "It's possible for people to whip it up emotionally, but usually it's quiet. There's no dramatic driving out of demons."

Still, the Ministry of Deliverance receives a steady request for exorcisms.

He explains: "The ministry helps people who believe they are taken over by evil.

"Possession is possible - we've left it open whether it's within the sub-conscious or an outside force. We're not saying we have the only truths."