Plough blessed at cathedral as prayers said for future of agricultural economy

A PLOUGH has been blessed as a cathedral held prayers for the future of the rural economy.

Ripon Cathedral held Plough Sunday to mark the contribution made to society by those working on the land.

A tractor and plough were driven to the cathedral and parts of the plough were blessed during a service which was led by Bishop of Knaresborough James Bell.

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The service also included a presentation by the Young Farmers organisation on their hopes for the future and a performance by Helen Benson of the Farm Crisis Network and Sally Conner of Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) explaining the pressures faced by farmers’ wives.

Lessons were also read by representatives of the farming community including the chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, Nigel Pulling.

Dean of Ripon Keith Jukes said that the special farming service “reflects the huge contribution made to our corporate and community life by those engaged in working on the land”.

“It also underlines our desire, at Ripon Cathedral, to have a major focus on rural issues.”

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In a recent lecture at the cathedral, Bishop Bell paid tribute to the work of small rural churches who play a vital role in their communities.

The Cathedral Plough Sunday service was jointly arranged by the Rev Elizabeth Clark, the rural officer for the Methodist Districts of York, Hull and Leeds and Andy Ryland, rural officer for the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds. It was open to all farmers, families, friends and members of the rural communities of the region.

Mr Ryland said: “The service had a real deep meaning as it reflected on the pressures that farmers have faced in the past year with the weather we have had and issues such as the price of milk.

“The Young Farmers spoke about the future for the rural economy and Helen Benson of the Farm Crisis Network and Sally Conner of RABI did a dramatisation where they 
played two farmers’ wives talking about their lives.

“It was very moving and almost brought a tear to the eye.”

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A collection was taken for the work of charities that support the farming community including the Farm Crisis Network and RABI.

The farming charities 
have recently been helped 
by donations from Prince 
Charles and the Duke of Westminster.