Bishop Mark praises farmers at National Harvest Festival

Speaking about the challenges the agricultural community has experienced this year due to flooding, fire and drought, Bishop Mark told Sunday’s congregation, which included many farmers, that he understood how uncertainty in the future can cause great anxiety for them.

He said: “For the verse (Matthew 6:34) that teaches us that the troubles of this day are sufficient, will also point out that the grace of this day is sufficient. And in a world which is increasingly conformed to a digital norm, to an algorithm, perhaps farming stands, at a time of climate change, as our most fundamental and prophetic reminder that we do not know what the future holds, but we do know the future. That the God who provides, as we partner with one another and with him.”

The National Harvest Festival is held at a different location every year and takes place during British Food Fortnight to help celebrate farming and food production in the UK. It is the second time the Diocese of Chester has hosted the event; four years ago it took place at Chester Cathedral.

The founder and CEO of Love British Food, Alexia Robinson, paid tribute to the Cheshire farming community during the service.

“The whole aim is to make sure that Harvest Festival stays a really important part of our national calendar,” she said.

“And it’s never been more important to give thanks to our farmers, and to encourage them to carry on farming, carry on producing our food and most importantly to make our farmers feel valued and appreciated.”

The celebration, which featured activities and displays in the centre of Nantwich, was supported by Reaseheath College and University Centre, the Cheshire Agricultural Society, Nantwich Agricultural Society, and the Cheese Shop in Nantwich.

Revd Canon Anne Lawson, chaplain to the Cheshire Agricultural Society, was keen to remind people about the critical contribution farmers make.

“It’s a hard time for the agricultural community. We think that the loss on the 2026 harvest is going to be £63M and it’s been a tough summer. We’ve had flooding earlier in the year, we’ve had drought, we’ve had fire, we’ve had blue tongue, pestilence to make it biblical, and this is an opportunity to celebrate we have a harvest.

“We can’t live if we haven’t got food and we rely on God to do that, as well as the hard work of the farming community.”