Harvest Festival celebrates launch of new rural charity 14 Oct
The Lincolnshire Rural and Agricultural Chaplains will be joining the Harvest Festival held at Lincoln Cathedral on 24th October at 3pm where the Countys Agricultural Chaplain Rev. Canon Alan Robson will be leading the service.
Harvest Festivals at this time of year celebrate and give thanks to our community and for the help and support of families, friends and neighbours during the farming year. We are heading into seriously changing and challenging times for the viability of many farms of all types across Lincolnshire which is why Chaplaincy is vitally needed.
Rev. Canon Alan Robson says “In very recent days we made visits to a pig farm, whose business was being threatened by enforcement notices, and a beef farm whose operation was massively stymied by the death of the primary partner and we have been able to influence proceedings until support and rethinking of solutions could happen. The chaplains’ ability to stay with whole families on a journey is the vital ingredient.”
“Chaplaincy has proven to make a real difference to the wellbeing of the people who produce food and farm in this county. Collaborating with other rural charities, we the Chaplains act as a comforter to those in need, a catalyst for change, a champion of rural voices and a connector creating links between organisations and people. The Lincolnshire Rural and Agricultural Chaplaincy charity need your support to fund the many different roles and skills an Agricultural Chaplain covers.”
Rural stress, isolation and high rates of suicide are familiar issues associated with farming and it is essential for Lincolnshire to retain an agricultural and rural Chaplaincy position. The current Agricultural Chaplain Alan Robson is now joined by four Associate Agricultural Chaplains covering the south, mid and north of the county and this new charity will fund their great work.
Chairperson Meryl Ward commented “The launch of the new Charity comes at a critical time for the rural and agricultural community as we face the biggest change in rural policy for a generation. Chaplaincy is an essential service to rural life, providing pastoral care, independent voices to champion rural issues and being that catalyst for change. Canon Alan Robson has achieved so much already, and now is the time to extend his work.”
To discover more about the new charity and how you can donate, visit lrac.org.uk or follow Lincolnshire Rural and Agricultural Chaplaincy on Facebook and Twitter @LRAChaplains.
