Brian Hession

Early life and education Hession was born in Hendon, Middlesex, England in August 1909 to Colin and Ida Hession. His brother was Roy Hession, a well-known evangelical preacher who in 1950 authored the religious book The Calvary Road. Brian's father served in the armed forces during World War I, and after returning home in 1919, was diagnosed with general paralysis of the insane, which is now commonly referred to as neurosyphilis. Colin died in 1921 of the ailment at Napsbury Hospital, which was used as a military and mental health asylum at the time.

In 1927, Hession was accepted to Christ's College, Cambridge, where he earned a degree in theology, and also studied film. He continued his religious studies thereafter at Trinity College, Bristol and was ordained as a priest in 1931. He served as a curate at St. Margaret's, Lee in Blackheath between 1931 and 1935, an as the military chaplain for RAF Halton from 1935-1937.

Ordained ministry In May 1937, Hession was appointed vicar of Holy Trinity church, Walton, in the parish of Aylesbury, approximately fifty miles north-west of London. In his first sermon, Hession introduced early multi-media programming, showing films and film slides to the congregation. He also served as the Mayor's Chaplain in Aylesbury during this period.

Dawn Trust Films During his tenure as vicar of Holy Trinity Walton, Hession created Dawn Trust Films, a film production and distribution company that aimed to bring religious themes to the mainstream film industry. His efforts were met with some resistance from the Church, which was struggling with the role that film should play in the message of the Church. In 1938, Hession obtained the rights to the 1912 classic Sidney Olcott film, From the Manger to the Cross and transformed it into a "talkie" film. Several members of the Church hierarchy were not impressed with Hession's film and attempted to have it censored from theatres and churches. Nevertheless, Hession persisted and in March 1938, Queen Mary agreed to view the film at a special showing at Fulham Palace. Queen Mary reportedly enjoyed the film and gave positive feedback to both Hession and the film's star actor, R. Henderson-Bland.

Resignation from vicar role

In 1949, Hession resigned his post as vicar of Holy Trinity because he was suffering poor health, which he was told at the time was the result of great stress that purportedly caused him to suffer painful duodenal ulcers. After his resignation, Hession relocated to Poole Harbour, England and focussed exclusively on his Dawn Trust Films movement, as well as occasionally preaching at local churches.

Hession was also featured dozens of times on BBC Radio, including on such prominent programmes as The Silver Lining and Lift Up Your Hearts. His discussions about pain and the need to be open about the grieving process was very well received by the audience.

Hession continued his campaign in the United States, meeting with, among others, Eleanor Roosevelt, Nelson Rockefeller and Mary Pickford in is efforts to spread his words and encouragement to cancer patients and their families.

Metastasis of cancer

Despite Hession's determination to survive and live a full life with cancer, the cancer soon spread, metastasizing to his lung and to his liver. Ever resilient and relentless, Hession had four additional surgeries, having one of his lungs completely removed and his second lung partially removed, in operations that were at the forefront of medical science, having been experimented with over the prior decade with tuberculosis patients. The surgeries were successful in extending the length and quality of Hession's life. However, by the time the cancer spread to his liver, there was little left to be done. He accepted experimental medication, including a treatment from renowned scientist Jonas Salk, and fought tirelessly not only for his life but to spread his message of hope faster than the disease spread through his body. He continued to speak and travel throughout his treatments, up until the pain became too great to bear in early September 1961.