The Agricultural Chaplains Association is for UK based agricultural and rural chaplains in Christian Ministry who serve farming and rural communities.  We do, however, seek to serve people of all faiths and none.  We have in membership somewhere in the region of one hundred members, working up and down the land in markets, and on farms.

During this recent spell of freezing, “topsy turvy” weather, life must go on in the countryside.  The same must be said about farming, with animals to be fed, watered, and generally cared for.  No chance of having a lie in and waiting until the weather improves.  The tasks must still be done.  The Chairman of the Association, Revd Richard Kirlew notes that, “During this time of year I personally try to cover as many farm visits as I can, that is in addition to livestock markets.  I love to talk to farming families and rural businesses about the issues they have and how we may be able to help.

One such farmer tells the tale of a Plough Sunday Service held this year in their local church.  The Agricultural Chaplain took the Service, which included the Blessing of two ploughs – one old horse drawn one and a huge, eight furrow plough.  This demonstrated how things have progressed over the years.  He said, “I asked the Chaplain in his address, if he could please try to explain to the congregation, most of whom worked and spent the majority of their lives outside their village, about farming and what the issues were!”. 

The Chaplain duly obliged.  So he recruited three or four farmers to help him.  The Chaplain announced that after the Service he and the four farmers would be available to talk to individual tables about the huge range of issues that affected farming life.

From that lunch, such was the interest, that a farm visit was arranged on a larger farm, so that folk who lived in that village, but both worked and had a fair amount of their leisure time outside the village could see what the problems were at first hand!  There are many cases of farmers feeling isolated in their own communities, because they think no-one is interested.  What a very good way of combatting that.

We hope that this true story inspires you.  If you haven’t already, try to make friends with your local farmers, and get to know them, who after all, are only trying to make a living, but far more importantly are providing all of us with our daily food!!

Remember, you hopefully need a solicitor, accountant, doctor or dentist occasionally, but you really do need a farmer three times every day!!

For more information on this and how to access our Association, please visit our website, www.agrichaplains.org.uk