Foot and Mouth, memory and responsibility: a reflection from Cumbria

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As we mark twenty five years since the Foot and Mouth crisis, we are sharing reflections that help us look back with honesty and look ahead with wisdom. In this piece, the Revd David Newlove reflects on the deep and lasting impact of Foot and Mouth in Cumbria, the resilience it demanded, and the continuing responsibility of church and society to learn from what was endured.

 

By the Revd David Newlove, Superintendent Minister of the Cumbria Circuit and Agricultural Chaplain

25 years on

Looking around our beautiful countryside in Cumbria today, with ewes in their inby ready for lambing, dairy herds in their daily milking routine and the hardier Belted Galloways out on the fells as part of regenerative grazing programmes. You could be lulled into a false sense that nothing has changed in generations.

But this year marks 25 years since the start of the 2001 Foot and Mouth outbreak in the UK and the catastrophic destruction this epidemic brought. I have to say that, in this county at least, it’s not an easy anniversary to speak of. The subject is only ever mentioned in Cumbria with caution and sensitivity. For, unless you know the person you are speaking to you cannot anticipate their reaction.

For some it was the devastating disease that in a hammer blow forced a change in their farming policy and practice that allowed the next generation to continue but for others (the majority) it was a cruel and catastrophic loss still felt a generation on. Ask a farmer who is always quick with their reply, and they might take a minute of silence before they can respond – eyes tear and throats dry.

And those who didn’t succumb to the virus will tell of their own hardship and difficulty coping through the isolation and lockdown with no recompense.

Of course it was not just the farmers.

The tourist industry was shut down, hoteliers, restaurants and shops suddenly found their diaries empty and the millions of tourists their business relied upon banished from the fells. It was a devastating time for all.

 

Our task today is two-fold. We need to hold this (almost sacred) story, helping those who have buried the pain so deeply to cope when life forces it to come out and to help next generations to understand what their parents and grand-parents went through and of the strength and resilience they found to cope with the crisis and aftermath – for that is their story too.

Secondly, we need to speak prophetically to government and policy makers about the real concern of a repeat epidemic. After 25 years and numerous reports and ongoing research we are still as vulnerable and susceptible today as a generation ago. Every successive government has failed to put in place the safeguards needed. And now, with constant reports of illegal meat being brought into our country and food system, unchecked and with no surety of it being disease free and government policy that drives towards larger and more intense agriculture we fear a repeat.

 

All this makes the 25th anniversary a hard topic to cover but let us not be silent in our responsibility.

 

For our prayers:

Creator God, you ordained that we care for all creatures and creation.
We lament the devastation caused by the 2001 Foot & Mouth epidemic – the loss of livestock and livelihood.
Forgive our inaction, when policy causes us to live lightly with our responsibility.
When our practice means that we show little reverence to your laws and the possible consequences.
Help us to live as you ordained, To care deeply and live well together
With all your created order, today and every day.
Amen

 

This reflection forms part of our wider focus on Rural Emergency Response and Resilience. You can read more here.

 

Rural Roadshow – ARC on the road

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at Bakewell Methodist Church DE45 1EL
10am – 2pm on Tuesday 9th June 2026,

Free Entry – Booking Required

As part of our vision to enable and empower rural Christians of all denominations who work within the unique context of rural mission and ministry, we invite you to attend our first “Rural Roadshow”. Join us as we celebrate all that is rural.

Come along and share a day of learning, networking and encouragement … and leave with new friends and practical resources.

The Arthur Rank Centre is an ecumenical national charity, that resources, trains, and advocates for rural Christians, rural churches and the communities they serve.
Our vision is of confident rural Christians, encouraged to engage in effective mission and ministry.

With financial assistance from the Westhill Endowment we are taking The Arthur Rank Centre on the road.
The Arthur Rank Centre’s “Rural Roadshow” celebrates all that is rural and gives a taster of our training and support out into the countryside.

Join us for a free day of networking and nourishing, both spiritually and physically. All are welcome. Lunch and resources included.
Our first Rural Mission and Ministry Roadshow is on the 9th June 2026, from 10am – 2pm at Bakewell Methodist Church DE45 1EL 

For more information or to book your place at this free event, please email us by clicking here with your name, role, denomination, address and contact details

Click to book

With thanks to Westhill for their support :

Government ends church VAT repairs scheme, raising concerns for rural churches

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Rural church buildings face new challenges following changes to repairs funding and VAT

On 22 January 2026, the UK Government confirmed the end of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which for more than 20 years has enabled churches to reclaim VAT on repairs and alterations. In its place, the Government has announced a £230 million funding package intended to protect and preserve heritage buildings, including listed places of worship.

This new capital funding has been welcomed, but it comes with a significant change. Under the new arrangements, churches will now have to pay VAT on repairs in full. This means that local congregations and volunteers will not only need to raise funds for essential work such as roof repairs, stonework or heating systems, but will also need to cover an additional 20% tax cost.

The National Churches Trust has responded by welcoming the principle of new funding, while expressing serious concern about the loss of VAT relief. Sir Philip Rutnam, Chair of the Trust, noted that churches depend overwhelmingly on volunteers and stressed that any new scheme must be simple, accessible and predictable if it is to work well in practice.

He also highlighted the unfairness of the new situation, pointing out that museums and galleries offering free admission do not have to pay VAT on repairs, while churches now will. The Trust has called on the Government to reconsider this approach and not place additional tax burdens on local communities already working hard to care for historic buildings.

For rural churches, the impact of these changes may be particularly acute. Many serve small populations, have limited fundraising capacity, and care for buildings that are both listed and central to community life. Delays to essential repairs risk not only the future of worship spaces, but also the loss of buildings that host social events, support services and local gatherings.

At The Arthur Rank Centre, we are mindful of the challenges this presents for rural churches and chapels. We will continue to monitor developments closely, share updates as more is known about the new funding scheme, and work alongside partners who are advocating for fair and sustainable support for the care of rural church buildings.

You can read here the National Churches Trust’s full response and find further information about their campaign.

The Rural Missioner’s Guild launching to encourage and connect those serving in rural mission

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The Arthur Rank Centre is delighted to announce the launch of the Rural Missioner’s Guild, a new ecumenical fellowship created to support, connect and encourage those involved in rural mission and ministry across the UK.

Launching on 30 January 2026, the Guild has been jointly developed by The Arthur Rank Centre and the Diocese of Leeds. It offers a simple but purposeful way for people serving in rural contexts to feel sustained, recognised and held in prayer. The Guild is open to anyone with a heart for rural mission, whether lay or ordained, and from any Christian denomination or tradition.

At the heart of the Rural Missioner’s Guild is a shared commitment to prayer and mutual encouragement. Rural mission can often feel isolating, with leaders and volunteers stretched across wide geographies and complex responsibilities. The Guild exists to remind those serving in these places that they are not alone, and that their calling is shared by others across the countryside.

Membership of the Guild draws people into a prayerful network that values faithfulness, attentiveness to place and the slow, steady work of presence that characterises much rural ministry. Members receive a Guild prayer card and pin badge as tangible signs of belonging, and an annual contribution of only £10 helps sustain the life and work of the Guild.

Each year, the Guild will mark St Isidore’s Day on 15 May, celebrating the patron saint of those who work in rural communities. This annual moment will provide space to reflect on rural mission, give thanks for those who serve faithfully, and recognise individuals whose contribution has made a particular difference in their local context.

Alongside this, the Rural Missioner’s Guild will offer small seed-corn grants of up to £200, designed to support local, grassroots ideas and initiatives. These grants are intended to encourage creativity and experimentation, helping new expressions of mission and community engagement to take root in rural settings.

As part of the Guild’s life, we are also inviting nominations for those who may be recognised as “Rural Champions of the Rural Missioner’s Guild”. These are individuals whose faithful service, imagination or long-term commitment to rural mission deserves to be noticed and celebrated. If you would like to nominate someone, please send their name and a short explanation to info@arthurrankcentre.org.uk. Nominations are now open, and we encourage people to begin submitting from now on.

The launch of the Rural Missioner’s Guild reflects The Arthur Rank Centre’s ongoing commitment to listening to, learning from and walking alongside rural churches and communities, and the value of working in partnership with others who share a deep commitment to rural mission. Through prayer, connection and shared encouragement, the Guild seeks to strengthen those who quietly and faithfully serve Christ in rural places.

Further information about the Rural Missioner’s Guild, including how to join, can be found here The Rural Missioner’s Guild

Date 15 January 2026

Rural and Wild: A New Adventure in Outdoor Mission & Ministry (18th – 20th September 2026)

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The Arthur Rank Centre is stepping outside — quite literally — with the launch of Rural and Wild, a new pilot weekend inviting church leaders to rediscover faith in the open air.

Created in partnership between The Arthur Rank Centre and The Methodist Church, this course is designed for lay leaders and clergy from all denominations who want to explore mission and ministry that breathes with the weather, listens to the land, and notices God in the wide open spaces.

Running at Cliff College, Derbyshire from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th September 2026, (a re-arranged date from February 2026) the gathering will mix worship, story, silence, trail-based reflection, and practical ideas that churches can take home and adapt.

It will offer a chance to step away from routine, wander, wonder, and re-imagine what mission might look like when it grows out of the soil of a place rather than the structure of a rota.

Rural and Wild is intentionally earthy and hands-on. Expect time outdoors. Expect wellies. Expect relaxed pub chats. Expect creativity. And expect conversations that help leaders think about how outdoor mission and ministry can work across everything from multi-parish benefices to small rural chaplaincies.

The weekend sits alongside our wider training programme — but with a very different feel: spacious, grounded, and shaped by the landscape itself.

Full details and booking information are available here

We’re excited to see where this new strand of rural training leads — and what new directions emerge when we dare to step outside.

Join us !

Published: 2 December 2025

Rural Bitesize: New Online Training for Rural Lay Leaders Launches January 2026

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The Arthur Rank Centre is pleased to announce the return of Rural Bitesize, a joint initiative delivered in partnership with The Methodist Church. This six-session online course offers accessible, practical support for rural lay leaders who want to explore mission, deepen confidence, and engage more widely with their communities.

Rural Bitesize begins on Monday 12 January 2026, running fortnightly from 7–9pm on Zoom. Designed around small, manageable steps, the course introduces key themes in rural mission and discipleship, grounded in real rural experience and shaped by the challenges and opportunities of the countryside.

The programme is ideal for those who are:

  • seeking to connect more deeply with their local communities

  • encouraging others in faith and discipleship

  • wondering how to “give things a go” in rural settings

  • questioning what mission and growth might look like where numbers are small and resources are stretched

Across the six sessions, participants will explore:

  • connecting with the agricultural community

  • rural margins and unseen hardship

  • intergenerational rural mission, including schools work

  • small-group discipleship in rural contexts

  • rural festivals, community events and co-created traditions

Rural Bitesize is open to all denominations, reflecting the breadth of rural mission across the UK.

Thanks to specific funding, the course is free for leaders in the Methodist Church and associated Local Ecumenical Partnerships (lay or ordained, paid or unpaid). Ecumenical friends from other traditions are warmly welcome; a small charge applies to cover resources, payable via The Arthur Rank Centre.

Course Dates (7–9pm on Zoom):

  • Monday 12 January

  • Monday 26 January

  • Monday 9 February

  • Monday 23 February

  • Monday 9 March

  • Monday 23 March

Participants will receive joining details by email after registering. Those signing up are encouraged to commit to all sessions to gain the full benefit of the course.

Booking

Places are now open for registration. Click here to book your place

National Churches Trust Grants – Supporting Rural Churches

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The National Churches Trust has announced the latest round of grant opportunities available to Christian places of worship across the UK. These grants are designed to help keep churches, chapels, and meeting houses open, well maintained, and serving their local communities.

The programme offers support for a wide range of projects, whether it’s repairing a roof, installing a kitchen or accessible toilets, clearing asbestos, or carrying out essential routine maintenance. Grants are available to suit different project sizes and needs, making them accessible to congregations of all kinds.

Key upcoming deadlines include:

  • Large Grants: 4 November

  • Medium Grants: 16 December

  • Cherish Grants: 16 December

Churches engaged in rural mission and ministry often face particular challenges in maintaining historic and much-loved buildings. These grants provide a valuable opportunity to secure funding that will allow buildings to remain at the heart of their communities, not only as places of worship but also as centres of support, hospitality, and mission.

Further details and application guidance can be found here: Our grants | National Churches Trust

Tribute to the Rt Revd Dr Anthony Russell (1943–2025)

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We give thanks for the life of the Rt Revd Dr Anthony Russell, former Bishop of Ely, who died on 9 July after a long illness.

Known to many simply as Tony, he combined deep Christian faith with a lifelong love of the countryside. Coming from a farming family, and trained as a sociologist of religion, he had a rare gift for helping the Church understand rural life and respond to its changing needs.

Before becoming Bishop of Ely, Anthony served parishes in Norwich and Coventry dioceses, alongside acting as Chaplain and later Director of the Arthur Rank Centre at Stoneleigh. It was here, in the 1970s and 80s, that he played a central role in shaping modern rural ministry. His ability to listen, distil complex ideas, and quietly offer words of wisdom made him a trusted and steady leader.

Anthony’s writings, including The Village in Myth and Reality (1975), The Country Parish and The Country Parson, inspired fresh thinking about rural churches at a time of social and agricultural change. He was instrumental in developing group ministries, in encouraging collaboration between clergy, and in persuading Archbishop Robert Runcie to establish the Archbishop’s Commission on Rural Areas.

As Director of the Arthur Rank Centre, he expanded the work to become the nationally recognised hub for rural ministry across the British Churches, supported the Rural Chaplains network, and helped found the Rural Theology Association. He also contributed internationally through the creation of the International Rural Churches Association.

Later consecrated as Bishop of Dorchester and then Bishop of Ely, Anthony continued to be known as a “safe pair of hands” — trusted, wise, and with a wry sense of humour. His presence alone carried reassurance, and when he spoke, it was with clarity and purpose.

In retirement, Anthony himself reflected that his time at the Arthur Rank Centre was the period of ministry he most enjoyed, and where he felt he had done the most for the Churches.

We at the Arthur Rank Centre give thanks for his vision, his leadership, and his devotion to the Church and countryside. His legacy continues to shape our work today.

Thanks be to God.

This tribute draws on obituaries written by the Rt Revd Dr John Inge (first published in the Church Times, 22 August 2025) and by Canon Andrew Bowden (16 August 2025), shared with the Arthur Rank Centre.

Open Farm Sunday & Pentecost celebrations

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In a creative first (*probably!) Rev Andy Lindley, Superintendent Minister of Ryedale Methodist Circuit in North Yorkshire gathered with folk from the circuit on Sunday 8 June 2025 to celebrate Pentecost and Open Farm Sunday at High Barn, Duggelby.

The Harrison and Russell families kindly hosted Norton Trinity and Scagglethorpe Methodist Churches. Andy led the service, linking the ancient Festival of the First Fruits, along with the Christian celebration of Pentecost, to the current practices of limited use of pesticides and herbivores at High Barn.

This was followed by sharing a meal together and having a tour of the farm.

The farm tour included some rare breed cattle, and an explanation of the ways that this farm has taken an environmental stance and encouraged nature in various ways.

Rev Andy said;

 “A highlight and abiding memory was a curlew flying past, just as we were learning how reducing chemicals and investing in the soil, had not only encouraged soil health and crop health, but also attracted three curlews to nest on one of the fields. The time spent on the farm was one of wonder and joy. Being able to celebrate Pentecost away from our usual building brought enthusiasm and inspiration to all who were gathered.”

[*Please let us know if you have also celebrated Open Farm Sunday combined with Pentecost!]

Standing with Farmers and Creation: ARC at the Climate Coalition Mass Lobby

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On Wednesday, representatives from The Arthur Rank Centre will be in Westminster joining thousands from across the country at the Climate Coalition’s Mass Lobby: Act Now, Change Forever. This nationwide event brings together people of all backgrounds to urge MPs to take bold action for a fairer, greener future.

As a charity supporting rural churches, farming families, and countryside communities, we know how deeply the climate crisis affects farmers, with unpredictable weather, floods, droughts, and shifting seasons threatening both livelihoods and food security. At the same time, farmers are working hard to reduce emissions, care for the land, and steward creation.

We believe the church has a vital role as a bridge-builder — helping foster dialogue between farmers, campaigners, and local communities so that we can find shared solutions that protect nature and support those who produce our food.

Our team will be at the rally, sharing stories from rural Britain, offering resources, and standing in solidarity with others calling for urgent climate action.

We’re delighted that Josh, our sixth-form work placement student will also be joining us, bringing a young person’s perspective on why caring for creation matters for future generations. We look forward to hearing and sharing their reflections on the day.

Stay tuned to our website and social media for updates from Westminster and to learn how you and your church can get involved in supporting both climate action and our farming communities.

See our new page – www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk/climate-dialogue for the latest, including Josh’s blog…