Bishop's visit to Great Yorkshire Show highlights spirituality and support for farmers

The Bishop of Knaresborough, the Rt Revd James Bell (centre), was one of the thousands of visitors at the  Great Yorkshire Show for its opening day, Tuesday July 14th, 2009.  With a keen interest in the rural economy he has worked closely with Diocesan Rural Officer, Canon Leslie Morley (pictured right), who was celebrating a first – his  first day as the Show’s Chaplain. Pictured with them (left) is Dr Stuart Burgess, Chairman for the Commission for Rural Communities and the Rural Advocate to the Government, one of those working to bring the needs of rural communities to the Government’s attention.

Spirituality

Starting point for the Bishop’s visit was the Yorkshire Church on Show pavilion. This year the theme is Who do you think you are? And takes visitors through a visual and sensory journey which includes mirrors but no smoke.  Instead a prayer pool invites people to write prayers on floating ‘lily pads’.

Chair of the Yorkshire Church on Show, the Revd Maureen Browell said, “The developing recession has forced many of us to think about what is important in our lives. In periods of tempestuous change, it’s important to remember that in the midst of change is an important constant – God, who knows and loves each one of us. So the message of this year’s Church on Show display is “Who do you think you are?”

The Yorkshire Church on Show team - Nic Sheppard, Maureen Browell,  Margaret Davis and Caroline Hewlett.

Support

Next stop was the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI). RIBA  works closely with other agencies including the churches’ own Farm Crisis Network to provide financial help to struggling farmers.  Sally Connor (pictured left), the North East Regional Officer, explained that one of the most acute crises at the moment was for northern dairy farmers caught out by the collapse of Dairy Farmers of Britain into which many had invested large sums of their savings.

Sheep

Sheep farming, particularly for upland farmers has also been in crisis but in vast open hall housing the sheep pens there was little sign of crisis as pride breeds were being prepared for judging. Pam Rothwell runs a smallholding near Knaresborough and was preparing her prize Ryeland sheep for the show. Meanwhile Bishop James was taken by the magnificent Jacob sheep, named after the Old Testament character from the book of Genesis.

Sunshine

This year's Great Yorkshire Show is already a record breaking event, with more entries in competitive classes than ever before – 12,189 entries compared with the previous best of 11,789 two years ago.

Visitor numbers were also strong as tens of thousands of visitors crowded through the gates.