Winifred Rushforth

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Winifred Rushforth
OBE
Born
Margaret Winifred Bartholomew

(1885-08-21)21 August 1885
West Lothian, Scotland
Died29 August 1983(1983-08-29) (aged 98)
Edinburgh, Scotland
NationalityScottish
Alma materUniversity of Edinburgh
Known forSomething is Happening: Spiritual Analysis and Depth Psychology in the New Age, Dream Groups
SpouseFrank Victor Rushforth
Scientific career
FieldsWomen's health, surgery
Depth psychology
Spirituality
InstitutionsDavidson Clinic

Margaret Winifred Rushforth

OBE (née Bartholomew; 21 August 1885 – 29 August 1983) was a Scottish medical practitioner and Christian missionary in India who, influenced by Hugh Crichton-Miller and his friend, Carl Jung, became the founder of a family clinic in Scotland, a therapist, Dream Group facilitator and writer. During a long and active career, spent mostly in Edinburgh, Scotland, she came to be revered and regarded as a local personality for people interested in spirituality and self-actualization.[1]

Early life and education

Rushforth was born in

MB ChB from the University of Edinburgh in 1908.[3]

Career

India

On graduating, she sailed for

hospital administrator, specialising in women's health.[citation needed
]

UK

11 Lauder Road, Edinburgh

The Davidson Clinic

She became interested in

OBE.[6]

Wellspring, Sempervivum and the Salisbury Centre

In 1978, she was instrumental in setting up Wellspring after the Davidson Clinic closed and its tasks were taken over by the

free thinkers at annual 'Easter Schools'.[8] Dr Rushforth gave regular lectures at the Salisbury Centre, in Salisbury Road, Edinburgh, until her late 90s. She ran weekly dream groups and "Search for God" groups from her house at 11 Lauder Road, Edinburgh, almost until the time of her death.[citation needed
]

Her daughter, Dr Diana Bates, continued Rushforth's work and was Director of Wellspring in Edinburgh for some years.[9]

Personal life

Rushforth was interested in

numinous
. She corresponded with Jung towards the end of his life - although they never met.

For many years, Rushforth was a close friend of

Kalahari and kept a carved wooden statuette of a bushman, by the contemporary sculptor Christopher Hall, in the drawing room of her home in Edinburgh. Her portrait in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery features the sculpture. It was van der Post who first told Prince Charles about Dr Rushforth's work on dreams and psychoanalysis, and urged the Prince to meet her.[citation needed
]

In the early 1980s, Rushforth's book Something is Happening was gifted to Prince Charles by Alick Bartholomew, a relative of Rushforth's, who assisted Prince Charles on the re-decoration of

afternoon tea. Dr Diana Bates, who was also present, later remarked that it was evident how thoroughly Prince Charles had read Dr Rushforth's books and how deeply he had thought about spiritual matters. In the months that followed, Prince Charles wrote regularly to Dr Rushforth and sent her hand-written copies of his forthcoming speeches, for her interest.[citation needed
]

Death and legacy

When Winifred Rushforth died, in August 1983, Prince Charles was said to be very taken aback. "If only I had got to know her sooner!" he is said to have exclaimed.[citation needed]

The Dreamer, memorial to Winifred Rushforth in George Square, Edinburgh

Sir Laurens van der Post attended Dr Rushforth's Memorial Service in

Old St Paul's Church, Edinburgh, as Prince Charles's representative. The service was conducted by the then Bishop of Edinburgh, Richard Holloway. Father Jock Dalrymple gave the eulogy.[10]

A 1982 portrait of Rushforth by the artist

Prince Charles.[11]

Awards and honours

  • 1968,
    OBE

Selected works

  • Something is Happening: Spiritual Analysis and Depth Psychology in the New Age (Turnstone Press, 1981)
  • Ten Decades of Happenings (Gateway Books, 1984) (autobiography)
  • Life's Currency: Time, Money and Energy : An Anthology of Shorter Writings (Atrium, 1986)

References

  1. S2CID 29038866
    .
  2. ^ Dr Winifred Rushforth OBE Electric Scotland, Retrieved 16 October 2014
  3. S2CID 29038866
    .
  4. S2CID 29038866
    . Abstract free, (subscription needed)
  5. ^ Skinner, John (22 November 1996). "Obituary. Vera von der Heydt". The Independent. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  6. ^ "The Davidson Clinic". University of Edinburgh archives. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  7. ^ "Wellspring, Edinburgh". Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  8. doi:10.1080/03060497.1976.11086602
    .
  9. ISBN 9789460919091
    .
  10. ^ Obituary of Fr. Jock Dalrymple (d.1985): http://saintaugustines.org.uk/2012/02/01/jock-dalrymple/ Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  11. ^ "The Dreamer, statue in memory of Winifred Rushworth | Mapping Memorials to Women in Scotland".

External links

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