rural ministry
Licensing in a livestock mart T
he sparrow did not find her house (Psalm 84) and the roosting pigeon could not settle in Worcester Livestock Market in April, when the singing nearly raised the roof. It was the licensing service for the new Chaplain for Agriculture and Rural Life which had filled the ring and most of the seats on the benches.
Farmers, village folk, local dignitaries, new parishioners and well wishers from his former villages in Northamptonshire gave the Revd Robert Barlow and his wife Helen a rousing welcome, at a service conducted from the rostrum by the Bishop of Worcester. The acoustics of the newly built market could have been designed for song. The Bishop, referring to the troubles of farming, said that like God, the Church is here to stay in the countryside. Just as we depend upon plants and animals for our food, the Christian Gospel teaches us to depend upon a God who keeps faith and endures suffering to provide for our spiritual needs. If we can hang on, God will have some more surprises for us.
Representatives (including our Editor) warmly welcomed the new chaplain to his task. A farmer warned, “Look out for our dogs when you call!” to which Robert Barlow cheerfully replied, “I’ve got two myself. Look out for them!” Readers, you have been warned! Following the ceremony, market officials laid on a first class spread in their canteen, which was a fine way to round off an unusual but memorable event.
Peter Lawrence Rural Theology Association The Rural Theology Association
The Rural Theology Association aims to inspire people working in rural ministry to gather together to share experiences and to share information across the denominations and across the UK. This is achieved through local groups, the newsletter and the journal.
Rural ministry can be lonely and isolating - rewarding and challenging. The Rural Theology Association was set up to bring together the different experiences people have of rural ministry, both lay and ordained. We are supported in this task by all the local groups that meet up and down
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the country and by the Arthur Rank Centre at Stoneleigh.
Please help us to do our job more effectively by joining the Rural Theology Association and your local Rural Theology Group. If there is not a local Rural Theology Group in your area then why not start one? The Rural Theology Association will be pleased to support you.
Please contact Stephen Cope, The Vicarage, Driffield, East Yorkshire, YO25 4XA, telephone 01262 420313, e-mail
yfk95@dial.pipex.com for more information.
www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk
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