Our day to day work seems to continue apace.  The main issues affecting farmers and rural communities seem to be the old suspects of the aftermath of Brexit; Bovine Tb; the increase in agricultural and rural business administration; mental and general health issues and finally the delicate topic of farm succession and its planning. That list is, of course, not exhaustive!

One of the topics that we have become involved with at local livestock markets, involves us working with other organisations, such as the Livestock Auctioneers Association, with whom we are looking at hugely increasing the number of farmer health checks being done at markets.  This is now paying off, as many more farmers are being referred to their local doctor or health centre,

Talking of livestock markets, one task that we are now beginning to undertake is our involvement in the marts that we are not represented in.  This can be quite time consuming, as we have to contact the marts involved to see if they are agreeable to us being present, which I have to say is usual affirmative.  That hurdle over, we approach the various church denominations to see if they would appoint a local chaplain, or be in a position to do so.  It then proceeds to appointing someone locally to be Commissioned to that mart.  Arduous, but very necessary work!

One of our Spotlight readers contacted me to agree with the comment that I made in a previous edition, “that our role as Agricultural and Rural Chaplains is unique”.  We minister where people are, in their own setting, not in any particular church.  We minster very much outside the box!  Our ministry, we all would agree, is the best ‘life’ that we can have.  We say ‘life’ because this is not just a job, but a way of life – that reminds me of farming as well!  This is what we are called to do.

Have a wonderful, not too hot summer, hopefully a time to rest and relax.

Revd Richard Kirlew, Chairman – The Agricultural Chaplains Association

richard@agrichaplains.org.uk and www.agrichaplains.org.uk