The Woodlands House of Prayer Trust
God has a plan for us all.
He sees the end from the
beginning, and will make His way known to
all who will wait on Him.
He does not show the whole plan, but only
one step at a time.
In 1942, Vera Hawkins and Margaret Barbour,
lived in London. Each was contributing to
the war effort; Margaret was the Superintendent
of a Bible college which was being used
as a hostel, whilst Vera drove an
ambulance.
During a time of prayer in one of the upper
rooms of the Bible college which overlooked
the garden, these ladies felt the Lord urging
them to purchase an empty house nearby and
furnish it from the bombed and ruined homes
of London. He would later show them the
purpose for this house. The house was purchased
and by advice, a small Trust was formed
called "The Woodlands House of Prayer."
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| Vera
& Margaret |
When the house was opened, needy people
from hospitals, bombed out houses, mothers
and babies, came to fill it. Soon another
house was added to the Trust. One year before
the war was over, God spoke very clearly
again about the future of the Trust and
His next movement for them. They were to
move down by the sea. He would provide tired
and strained people from the war that needed
a haven of rest.
Where God guides, He provides. In 1944,
two houses in Eastbourne, near shops and
churches, with a beautiful view of the sea
became available which had twenty (20) bedrooms
with hot and cold water. The two houses
at one time belonged to Christians who prayed
that God would continue to use them for
His glory. They had the confidence that
this was God's place for their next move.
Some did not have encouraging words for
the future houses in Eastbourne. Even if
there was enough money to purchase furniture,
nothing could be bought. In quietness and
confidence shall be your strength, and the
ladies continued on with their plans to
move on May 8, 1945, a date given to them
by God many months before. The war ended
on that very day but due to the Victory
Day, the movers would not transport the
load of furniture until May 10, 1945. There
was not enough furniture to fill all the
rooms at the houses in Eastbourne. The ladies
had learned to trust God for all things.
A house full of furniture was offered to
them, on loan, enough to fill all twenty
(20) bedrooms.
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|
Rodenhurst
Road, Clapham |
In less than a month, the first visitors
arrived. Many of the visitors found fresh
faith to continue on, rebuild their homes
and their lives after the years of war.
At the end of that first summer, God spoke
again. "Enlarge your borders."
They had learned that when God spoke, they
obeyed. Two adjoining houses at the Eastbourne
lot became vacant. Walls were knocked down
to make it into one house. Can God furnish
another twenty (20) bedrooms? Some were
sceptical as to how this need would be met.
The same thing happened again. Furniture
from a guesthouse was offered and purchased
at a very good value.
God never guides without providing. As
the ministry became known, people were sent
by God to work at Eastbourne. Staff had
stories to tell of how God lead them to
give up their homes, office jobs, and leave
retirement to be in service at Eastbourne.
The staff often had to stand back amazed
and watch God work the impossible. Opportunity
was given to extend the borders even further
at Eastbourne but due to the volume of work,
it was put on hold. Soon, the faithful workers
received the courage to trust God to expand
their premises to include facilities for
the elderly, young families, house parties,
a games room, space for a nursery, and an
ample room for meetings.
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| Eastbourne |
To provide for the needs of the elderly,
a lift would be needed. Again, they watched
God provide for the impossible. A visitor
at the house located a lift in London. Again,
scepticism from friends did not keep the
ladies from trusting God. After making a
trip to London to see the lift, they found
it to be in perfect condition. It fitted
perfectly into the well of the staircase
and serviced the right number of floors.
Only God leads His children to houses of
His choice. He knows the end from the beginning,
He only asks His disciples to be faithful
to His leading step by step.
So for eighteen years the houses in Eastbourne hummed with activity. However the situation in Eastbourne became increasingly difficult because of the rapid post-war growth of the town. The noise had increased to such an extent that visitors found very little of the rest they desired. In fact, some of them were having serious doubts as to the advisability of repeat visits, with cars roaring past all day and car doors slamming all night. Accordingly a quieter place, in more peaceful surroundings was sought. In the Autumn of 1962 the following advert was seen: “Brunel Manor, 3.5 miles from Torquay and Teignmouth, ten acres of woodlands and gardens, suitable for school, convalescent home or religious house”. To the astonishment of all, it was priced within a little of the valuation of the Eastbourne property.
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The Games Room, as it was. |
Upon their first visit, Vera and her companions were met with the most glorious view right over Torbay towards Paignton and the hills behind the River Dart. Giant trees, green grass banks, flower beds - what a contrast to the bareness of Queens Gardens! It was breath-taking. There were spacious grounds, quietness and peace. There were, however, no wash-basins in any of the bedrooms, no upstairs heating, no mains drainage, and a mass of dull green paint in the bedrooms! They all realised there was much that needed doing. But it was the house of the very first vision back in 1945.
So it was that in January 1963, Brunel Manor was purchased by
the Woodlands House of Prayer Trust to continue
the vision of Vera Hawkins and Margaret
Barbour to provide a place of physical and
spiritual renewal. Since that time, many
thousands of people have come to experience
the unique ministry of the Manor and many
have testified to the way God has met with
them during their stay.
The full story of the Woodlands House of
Prayer Trust is set down in "Large
Doors still open wide on small hinges",
available from reception at the manor.
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