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In years gone by, the
first Sunday in January would be celebrated as "Plough
Sunday". Before farmers had their own ploughs, the communal
village plough would be brought in to the village church. There
God's blessing would be asked for the work that would be done
with it. After the service the plough would be paraded round
the village, often with dancing and usually stopping at every
pub for refreshment! The farmers who were going to use the plough
would give contributions towards the cost of its upkeep as well
as the upkeep of the church where it had been blessed. Two things
from Plough Sunday are important to us. First the plough was
a communal plough and that reminds us of the importance of community
and co-operation. Today it is becoming more common for farmers
to share equipment through machinery rings. In a society that
stresses then importance of competition, it is good to be reminded
that co-operation is also important and a good way to work. |
.The
Revd Robert Barlow
Chaplain for Agriculture and Rural
Life |
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Peter and Diana Smith obtained the
plough for us to have in church today. They kindly offered us
their yard as a possible venue for our service, but in view
of the weather in January, we have decided to continue the tradition
of bringing the plough into Church to be blessed in the hope
for a fruitful harvest. Farmer John Liddiard from Shefford
has very kindly loaned us this beautiful Pony Plough today.
It was made by a Newbury firm - Turk, who made farming implements
including animal feeding troughs. The date of manufacture is
not known by John, but it could be up to 200 years old.
He acquired the pony plough about 40 years ago when someone
told him to go to a certain point beside the canal in Newbury,
and look in the stinging nettles! He did and paid the owner
Ten shillings for it!......... (that's 50p
in today's money) |
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Having seen horse-drawn plough demonstrations
at agricultural shows, most of us can relate to the scenes above.
I was lucky enough to see them working in earnest. When I was
about 8 years old, my Grandfather, Fred Day, took me to watch
his work with the horses on the farm at "Wescot" near
Wantage. The reason I went was that it was the last time he
would use the "shires" as the new tractor was due
to arrive the next day. Now of course, a modern day ploughing
unit can turn over a field in a matter of hours. |
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Dawn
Tonge read "The Farmer's Prayer" as part of
the service, and says that she was recently reminded
of it at a farmer friend's funeral. Dawn asks - as it
is so appropriate would it be possible to include it
on the Plough Sunday page? - Of course Dawn, delighted
to oblige. |
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MMm |
THE FARMERS PRAYER
Let the wealthy and the great
Roll in splendour and state
I envy them not I declare it.
I eat my own Lamb
My Chicken and Ham
I shear my own sheep
and I wear it.
I have Lawns, I have Bowers
I have fruit, I have Flowers
The Lark is my morning alarmer.
So jolly boys now
here's God speed to the plough
Long life and success to the Farmer.
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well as the plough displays, the previous week's "Education
Sunday" display boards were still in position. The "Education
Sunday" service was wonderfully supported and the school
children's efforts and enthusiasm in preparing display boards
of their schools, and in the part they played in the service
are commendable. That is the reason we have left the displays
in place for this week...........(see more
below) |
Text : The Revd. Robert Barlow : Sally
Wright : Ken Tarbox
Photos : Ken Tarbox
(except 6-7-11-12)
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