People from across the Muddy Boots Rural Mission Area, as well as members of the Chaplaincy for Agriculture and Rural Life, gathered at Abberley Hills Vineyard last week for a prayer walk to mark Rogation.
Rogation comes from the Latin ‘Rogare’, which means ‘to ask’. Historically, the Rogation Days (the three days before Ascension Day) were a period of fasting and abstinence, asking for God’s blessing on the crops for a bountiful harvest. Traditionally churches will walk around the boundaries of the parish during this time, praying for all who live and work there.
David Morris, Priest in Charge of Shrawley & Witley w Astley & Abberley and Teme Valley North in the Rural Mission Area, said:
“We try to visit a different farm each year for a Rogation service to pray for the crops as they start to grow as well as for farmers more generally. We were given a tour of Abberley Hills Vineyard and stopped at different points to say prayers, finishing with hospitality and fellowship in one of the barns.”
Abberley Hills Vineyard is owned by the Van Tongeren family, although it’s believed here might have been a vineyard on the site since Roman times!
Four different types of wine are produced on the farm and there is also an orchard from which apples are pressed. Biodiversity is important to the farm and an area is set aside for wild flowers and insects which are important for the pollination of the fruit.
“Just under 40 people joined us for the evening,” continued David.
“We prayed for the crops around us with a special prayer for vineyards, but also for all local farms and villages, many of which we could see from the hillside.”
