Rural Mission

Convenor of the Rural Forum  -  Revd John Bennett,  email John

Scargill House Conference

Bishop James, the Bishop of Knaresborough (left), reflected on reaching rural communities at Scargill House. Pictured with Phil Stone, Director of the Scargill Centre and Leslie Morley former Rural Officer for the Ripon & Leeds Diocese.  Bishop James chairs The Rural Affairs Group in the General Synod of the Church of England.

Bradford Diocese Rural Forum

Was held in May at Bolton Priory Rectory, with presentations from: Nic Sheppard: "The Church’s presence at the Great Yorkshire Show and Chaplaincy developments", Tina Chamberlain: "Rural Action Yorkshire: Making the most of what you’ve got”. 

Visit the Churches Marquee at the Great Yorkshire Show

This year the show dates are: 10-12 July. Hosted by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society at the Harrogate showground, the event is an excellent day out. The Churches Marquee provides a first-rate meeting place, where the Christian gospel can become meaningful  to the thousands of visitors who pass through it, each year.  

Skipton Auction Mart

A new record price of £550 for a rearing calf under six-weeks old was achieved at Skipton Action Mart in their March show and sale.The champion British Blue bull calf was presented by brothers Shaun and Peter Sowray of Bowes Green Farm, Bishop Thornton. The Sowrays sell more than 100 calves a year at Skipton Auction Mart. They also took the second and third prize for British Blue heifer calves. Skipton Action Mart is regularly visited by our rural officer, the Revd John Bennett.   

Virus Vigilance

National Farmers Union chief livestock adviser Peter Garbutt, says, “I would urge farmers to remain extra vigilant for signs of the Schmallanberg virus and take all sensible precautions to prevent infection, during the lambing season.”

Whilst the disease has affected livestock in Norfolk, Suffolk and East Sussex, and hasn’t yet been firmly detected in North and West Yorkshire, the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency is continuing to monitor the spread of incidents.