A Harvest Thanksgiving service with a difference will be held on Sunday 22 October in Lincoln Cathedral at 3.00pm. Everyone is welcome to attend, but with one condition….. that you bring a little something to say “thank you”: a carrot, a potato, an apple or even a flower!
“The principle behind this year’s service is that everyone can join in – you don’t have to be a farmer, or hold any office or even be a grown-up,” says NFU Lincolnshire’s chairman, Mark Ireland. “We want as many people of all ages to take part as possible.
“Traditionally there’s been a procession of offerings from the farming community and the service has been centred on the Nave, the main part of the cathedral. But this year we wanted more people to join the thanksgiving and to enjoy seeing the cathedral in all its glory.
“As everyone gathers inside the main west door,” explains Mark Ireland, “we will begin to process around the cathedral. The plan is that everyone brings a small gift to lay at the choir screen as the whole congregation (or as many as we can fit) moves from the Nave into St Hugh’s Choir. It should be fun for all ages, as well as thanking everyone for the great achievement of bringing in the harvest and celebrating the beauty of our lovely county – Lincolnshire.”
“Don’t worry if you forget to bring a thank you offering, there’ll be boxes of spare vegetables kindly donated by Lincolnshire’s farmers and growers,” adds Mark Ireland. “And afterwards, the Nomad Trust in Lincoln will take all the offerings to help feed the homeless of the city and county.”
The service begins at 3.00pm with the procession from the West door of the cathedral. This year’s sermon will be delivered by the Rt Revd Dr Timothy Ellis, the Bishop of Grantham. The readers will include members of Lincolnshire Young Farmers’ Clubs, students from the University of Lincoln, Riseholme Campus and representatives from the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society and the NFU in Lincolnshire. This year’s choir is Schola Hugoniensis, directed by Keith Halliday.
Afterwards, refreshments will be available, kindly sponsored by Clydesdale Bank plc.
The collection from the service will be in support of the LincFarm Project* and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, the farming industry’s charity.
