Plough Sunday

‘Plough Sunday remains a testament to the importance of community, cooperation, and acknowledging God’s centrality in our labour and worship. It’s a poignant invocation for blessings on human endeavours at the year’s outset, reminding us of our interconnectedness and the divine presence in our work.’

Rochester Cathedral.

Plough Sunday was marked in our cathedrals over the weekend in support of local farming communities and the vital contribution they make to feeding the nation and managing the countryside.

For Ripon Cathedral, the service marked the start of a programme of events to support their farming community, including the inaugural Yorkshire Farming Conference which will be held at the Great Yorkshire Showground later this month, the Great Yorkshire Show in July and other training and development initiatives.

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, preached and the service welcomed farming charities, and included readings by members of the Future Farmers of Yorkshire network, a tractor display outside the Cathedral and a retiring collection in support of the Addington Fund, a charity that provides housing and disaster relief in the form of animal feed or services to farmers in need across England and Wales.

The Plough Sunday Service is the start of a full year of support from the Yorkshire Agricultural Society with more events, training, bursaries and grants on offer to boost professional development, knowledge exchange and wellbeing in the industry.

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell said:

“Plough Sunday reminds us that before there can be harvest, there must first be hope, hard work and faith. 

“As we gather at Ripon Cathedral to bless the plough and share the words ‘God speed the plough’, we will give thanks for those who work the land, for those who support them, and for the deep rural heritage that continues to shape our communities today. 

‘At a time when farming families face many challenges, this service offers a moment to pray together, to recognise their contribution, and to mark the beginning of the sowing season with gratitude and hope.”

The Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd John Dobson, blessed a ploughshare presented by the Yorkshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs and said:

“It is always a privilege to host this Plough Sunday Service at Ripon Cathedral, organised in partnership with our friends at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society. We celebrate the efforts and contributions of farmers and all who work in rural businesses in caring for the land and livestock, producing the food which is essential to the wellbeing of us all. We pray for God’s blessing upon them, their labours, and the health of their businesses.”

In Rochester Cathedral too, Kent’s farming traditions were blessed and celebrated with the annual Blessing of the Plough and Seed Service.

A spokesperson for the cathedral said,

‘Plough Sunday is a time-honoured tradition that welcomes Kent’s farming and agricultural communities to our cathedral.‘

Plough Sunday originates from the Victorian times but is rooted in an ancient custom after the twelve days of Christmas when the community would bring the communal plough to the church for blessing.

The spokesperson said,

‘Though village ploughs and January ploughing are rare, due to changes in agricultural practices, Plough Sunday remains a testament to the importance of community, cooperation, and acknowledging God’s centrality in our labour and worship. It’s a poignant invocation for blessings on human endeavours at the year’s outset, reminding us of our interconnectedness and the divine presence in our work.”

St Edmundsbury Cathedral marked Plough Sunday with the blessing of a tractor and plough during the service of Choral Evensong on Sunday.

The service celebrates farming and agriculture in the county and began in the Cathedral before Clergy and congregation make their way out to the Norman Tower where the plough, provided by the Elveden Estate this year, was located.

The Reverend Canon Katy Cunliffe, St Edmundsbury Cathedral Precentor, said,

“Plough Sunday reminds us that before we can give thanks for the Harvest, there is a lot of hard work to be done. We give thanks for all those who work the land contributing so significantly to our communities here in Suffolk, and, at the start of the agricultural year, we ask God’s blessing upon them and upon their work.” 

The observance of Plough Sunday on the First Sunday of Epiphany goes back to the 1800’s, but there is also a much older observance, associated with the first working day after the twelve days of Christmas. Often, work in the fields would not start back until after Plough Sunday.

Photo Credit – Sandy Struben and Bill Swan