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.

[3] In May 1937, Hession was appointed vicar of Holy Trinity church, Walton, in the parish of Aylesbury, approximately fifty miles north-west of London.

Nevertheless, Hession persisted and in March 1938, Queen Mary agreed to view the film at a special showing at Fulham Palace.

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.

In July 1954, on a plane trip between Los Angeles and Marvin, Texas for a preaching engagement, Hession fell badly ill and was overcome with pain.

He was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital and the doctors quickly diagnosed him with advanced colon cancer, which had likely existed for several years but had been mis-diagnosed as duodenal ulcers.

[1] In 1957, Hession appeared on the well-known British television show This Is Your Life to spread his message to hundreds of thousands of viewers.

[6] Hession was also featured dozens of times on BBC Radio, including on such prominent programmes as The Silver Lining and Lift Up Your Hearts.

[7] 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.

[1] In late September 1961, Hession entered St. Thomas' Hospital in London, where he died on 5 October 1961, over seven years after his doctors gave him only "three days to live.