East Garston

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

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.

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.

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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.

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)

Text : The Revd. Robert Barlow : Sally Wright : Ken Tarbox
Photos : Ken Tarbox
(except 2-7-11-12)