A plough, milk churns and soil will be presented in Pershore Abbey on 7 January as farmers from across the region gather to ask for God’s blessing on agricultural productivity in the year ahead. The items will be used as symbols of the work of farmers and will be brought to the traditional Plough Sunday service by young farmers from the diocese.

The service is being organised by the Revd Louise Grace who is Associate Chaplain in the Chaplaincy for Agriculture and Rural Life (CARL). She said: “Plough Sunday is an old community tradition, originating from when the whole village shared one plough. This meant that all the farmers had to co-operate to be successful. The service to bless the year ahead was an important part of fostering and celebrating the spirit of community.”

Pershore Abbey’s congregation will host the farmers and everyone is welcome to come along and share in the service. Louise continues: “Farmers now increasingly share equipment through machinery rings, making the service very relevant to today’s society. However, it’s not just about asking God’s blessing on farming, but upon all our work, reminding us that co-operation is a good approach no matter what our job.”

ENDS.

The Diocese of Worcester is one of 44 dioceses in the Church of England. It covers an area of 671 square miles and includes parishes in the County of Worcestershire, the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, and a few parishes in northern Gloucestershire, south east Wolverhampton and Sandwell.