Rogationtide is the ancient festival to invoke a blessing on fields, stock and folk emerging after a sequence of natural disasters in fifth century France. By the eighth century in England it involved parishioners 'ganging' after the Cross around the edge of the parish.This helped everyone to remember the boundaries before maps were commonplace. Along the way prominent trees often became places for preaching ­ Gospel Oaks. Locations of various landmarks - stones streams, hedges, ponds were impressed upon the children: in the past by ducking them, ritually beating them and then giving them a treat.

In Lambourn, the first service at the western most end of the valley, was held at Farringdon Place Stables, by kind permission of Barry and Penny Hills. Each service, conducted by Revd Cumberlidge, followed the same simple format: an introduction by the host, to the location and the industry, then prayers, a hymn – led by the choir of Lambourn Church, a bible reading, prayers, a poem and finally a blessing.

At Eastbury in the middle of the valley, Alistair and Alison Lidderdale hosted the service in their delightfully compact half-timbered yard with the horses in their boxes joining in enthusiastically. So much so that Martin Partridge did well to do justice to the bible reading, when a horse was determined to put its nose into his coat pocket. Tony Cumberlidge had to contend throughout with a very affectionate and persistent horse nibbling the back of his head! It was a wonderful illustration of animal and human enterprise in the valley

The traditional day for beating the bounds of the parish was Holy Thursday (Ascension Day) 40 days after Easter. The rogation days fall on the four days from the fifth Sunday after Easter which itself falls on the Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. In different places these may be called Cross Days, Gang Days or Grass Days.

The term Rogation comes from the Latin, rogare, “to ask.” Rogationtide not only crystallizes the prayers of those whose livelihood depends on the harvest, but it reminds all of us of our dependence on the fruits of the earth. The Rogation Days are in fact the only days in the church calendar which are explicitly agricultural. Rogationtide also makes us aware of our reliance on nature’s clemency.

The last and most easterly port of call was Maidencourt Farm at East Garston, where David and June Rabbitts most fittingly invited us to have the last service on the banks of the River Lambourn under the willow trees, with the wild life and the Simmental/ South Devon beef cattle herd joining the congregation! David explained that there had been a house at Maidencourt for a thousand years. He has been farming there for almost 70 years and has seen the demise of the farm working horse and the coming of the tractor, subsequently replaced by the combine harvester. David and his 2 sons run the farm now; 70 years ago there were 36 farmworkers. At this last service, the poem A Winter Milking was beautifully read by David and June’s 15 year old granddaughter, Victoria.

The need for the Church to be in close contact with the everyday life of the community it serves, is a conviction strongly held by The Reverend Tony Cumberlidge. Keen for the church to play its part in the workings of the valley and for it to be relevant to people’s lives in the 21st century, Tony Cumberlidge decided to revive the Rogationtide tradition, which it seems has been dormant here for close on 50 years.

In keeping with the Rogationtide tradition, parishioners then gathered at the local hostelry, The Queens Arms, at East Garston for socialising and complimentary refreshments, very generously provided by Chris and Jules. All agreed that it had been a superb occasion with the church and local community mutually supporting each other.

 Photos : Andrew Snowdon
Research : Ken Tarbox
Text : Sally Wright : Ken Tarbox

I was unable to attend this event because of a prior commitment so I would like to express My grateful thanks to Andrew Snowdon for allowing publication of his photos on www.east-garston.com - Thanks Andrew. .................................................................................................................................................(KT)