Budget Response – Autumn 2024
/0 Comments/in Latest News /by ARC Comms TeamBudget Response
Following recent budget announcements, we are mindful of the uncertainty that many within the farming community are feeling. The potential reduction in Agricultural Property Relief, along with other budgetary changes, brings fresh challenges, and we understand the added pressure this may place on those who work tirelessly to support the nation’s food security.
At a time like this, it’s vital that we look to one another for strength and support. In our rural churches, we are reminded of our calling to stand alongside each other and to be there for those who need a helping hand. As stewards of our land and our communities, we’re encouraged to share in the responsibility of ensuring that no one is left isolated or struggling alone.
We would like to remind you that our sister charity, the Farming Community Network’s (FCN) helpline is available (03000 111 999) for anyone who may wish to talk or seek advice. The helpline is staffed daily by volunteers who understand the unique challenges faced by those in agriculture and rural life.
We continue to pray earnestly for our rural churches as they support their local communities, especially during these times of change. May we all find renewed hope and resilience as we seek to care for each other, knowing that we are not alone.
Recent Rural Mission and Ministry Course reflections, and 2025 bookings open
/0 Comments/in Latest News, Training /by ARC Comms TeamHeld at King’s Park, Northampton, October’s Rural Mission and Ministry Course brought together church leaders and lay members for a couple of days of engaging learning and sharing. The course focused on building resilient rural ministries with sessions tailored to key challenges, from understanding community needs to creative communication and outreach strategies.
Practical tools and resources were shared, sparking ideas for effective, relevant ministry across diverse rural settings. Participants also valued the chance to network, leaving with renewed vision, practical strategies, and a strong sense of fellowship to take back to their own communities.
This was a gathering, rich in inspiration and insight, setting a solid foundation for strengthening rural churches and their mission.
Revd Tracey Voysey, kindly wrote to us afterwards with her wonderful reflections …
I attended the Arthur Rank Rural Ministry Course in hope that I would be with like-minded people who understood the joys, challenges, love and frustrations of rural ministry. I also hoped that I would come away re-energised and reinvigorated to go back into ministry in Devon.
Well, my hopes were filled well and truly, but the course also provided so much more than I imagined. Each session spoke deeply to me from considering yet again, how important ‘belonging and place’ is in life, to hearing, and talking about the ‘nitty gritty’ of farming and rural life and its consequences, and how we can speak into that as ministers. The emotions in the room were real and tangible. That along with the sessions on Mission and Evangelism, Leadership and Wild all-age worship have left with me reflecting profoundly on my ministry.
I reconnected with ‘finding my why,’ the thing that is deeply rooted in me and drives me to do what I do, and recognising once again that ‘God’s hand is over each of us’ enabling us to do what we do.
The course left me with filled with the Spirit after rediscovering my passions for rural ministry and its way of life, and well as have the time to refuel and be kind to myself.
Thank you to the Matt and Sarah from the Arthur Rank Centre for creating a ‘home’ for two days. A home that fostered welcome, kindness and showed God’s love. Thanks too for the excellent range of speakers, I have been blessed by each and every one of you, likewise my fellow course mates. The food was fabulous too!
Booking for the 2025 courses are now open… Click here to make your booking
Planting Hope for Rural Churches and Communities
/0 Comments/in Latest News /by ARC Comms TeamNEW ARC GIVING CAMPAIGN – HELP US TO HELP OTHERS.
Nurturing Rural Communities – For less than the price of a few seeds
Think of the simple act of planting a seed. It’s small, almost unnoticed, but given time, it grows into something that nourishes and sustains. Now imagine that same sense of growth and renewal, but instead of a plant, it’s rural churches and communities flourishing across the country.
This is the impact of a regular gift to The Arthur Rank Centre.
For less than the cost of a packet of seeds, your support can help us deliver vital services to rural churches, strengthen farming communities, and provide the lifeline that so many isolated individuals need. A small regular donation can make a real difference, ensuring the rural church remains a living, breathing part of community life.
Your gift, however modest, is like a seed – it grows over time, supporting projects and programmes that bring hope and resilience to those who often feel forgotten. It helps keep the church at the heart of rural life, providing not just spiritual support, but a centre of community connection and care.
Even the smallest seeds can grow into something powerful. Your regular donation helps build stronger, more connected communities, where the church continues to be a source of strength and support.
Next time you plant a seed or tend a garden, think about the potential within that small beginning. And know that for less than the price of those seeds, you could be helping rural communities and churches grow and thrive.
Thank you for considering regular support for The Arthur Rank Centre. Together, we can cultivate a lasting impact on rural life.
Join with us by clicking here to support the mission of The Arthur Rank Centre.
The joys of a Show Chaplain…
/0 Comments/in Latest News /by ARC Comms TeamChaplain to the Cheshire Agricultural Society and the Royal Cheshire Show
We recently spoke with Revd Anne Lawson, to understand her role as Chaplain to the Cheshire Agricultural Show.
It has been my privilege to be the Chaplain to the Cheshire Agricultural Society for 11 years now. Mainly this involves organising “The Church at the Royal Cheshire Show” and carrying out chaplaincy work around the Showground for the 2 days of the Show, as well as saying Grace at Presidents’ and Chairman’s lunches. It’s a hard task, but someone has to eat for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Additionally, as Chaplain to the Cheshire Agricultural Society, I have an ex-officio place on the Council and attend the Annual Meeting and events such as Stewards’ Supper to say Grace.
The Royal Cheshire Show opens on the evening before the Show with a Service in “The Church at the Show”, a marquee measuring 300 square metres.
A choir is invited to lead the singing and to sing before and during the service; a Salvation Army band accompanies the hymns, and the Service is attended by over 250 people who come from all walks of life and for many reasons to celebrate all that is good about rural life across Cheshire. A Bishop (Anglican or Roman Catholic), or a Methodist District Chair preach at the Opening Service and bless the showground. It is the only service I take where people arrive early and fill up from the front, and there is a real buzz of excitement and anticipation surrounding the service. During the Opening Service, representatives of the different sections present an item to represent their section, which brings in people who wouldn’t usually think to attend a church service. One of the best conversations I’ve ever had on the showground was with one of the Young Farmers’ Dairy Queens. She openly admitted she’d never been to the Opening Service before, and didn’t know what to expect, but would willingly come again,
On Show days, there is an 8.00 am Communion Service, attended by around 30 people, including the President and Lady Patroness to the Show, the Show Chairman and Deputy Chairman, who feel it is important to begin each Show day in this way. At 2.00 pm there is a Service for the Countryside, a Service of the Word, which has taken as many forms as the number of people taking it over the years. This is taken by clergy of different denominations, who are assisted by one of our Show choirs who come each year to sing at this service.
The ‘Church at the Show’ is supported by a team of over 30 volunteer stewards from churches of different denominations across Cheshire, who welcome people to the marquee and serve cups of tea, coffee and orange squash and chat to those who come in. A number of exhibits are placed around the marquee. Some of these are regular exhibits, like the popular Fair Trade stall, with others changing each year. Over the years we have had a group of Christians working in the salt industry carrying out scientific experiments and using these to speak of faith, knitted bible scenes created by a Salvation Army knitting group and a life-sized Noah (and a few less than life-sized animals and his Ark) created out of knitted squares by a rural church. The cathedral have brought everything from stone masonry and antique books to children’s activities, Mad Hatter and the White Rabbit. Outside the marquee, the Diocesan Guild of Bell Ringers ring from a mobile bell tower, and offer visitors opportunity to have a go at bell ringing, and a talented team of children’s workers provide activities in an adjacent gazebo. We try to have something eye-catching outside the marquee too, such as a vintage wedding car or a Shepherds’ Hut built as a prayer space by a Methodist minister.
We are grateful to the Cheshire Agricultural Society, who not only provide the marquee free of charge, but also allow the distribution of around 200 tickets to enable stewards and exhibitors in ‘The Church at the Show’ to attend the Show for nothing. We believe that this, together with the Chaplain’s ex officio seat on the Show Council is a unique model for Agricultural Showground Chaplaincy. It is certainly a privilege that is not taken lightly, and which has opened doors to enable other events such as ‘The Cheshire Harvest’ to be developed at other times of the year.
Well done to Anne and the team for such great work and commitment… We, along with others, cheer you on !
St Francis Day resource
/0 Comments/in Latest News, Other Resources /by ARC Comms TeamWe’re delighted to bring you a new resource from The Arthur Rank Centre – St Francis Day
ARC Beyond Consumerism St Francis Day A4 2024
Looking for a way to engage your congregation with issues of animal welfare and creation care?
Our Beyond Consumerism resource for St Francis’ Day (4th October 2024) is designed to help churches reflect on our relationship with animals and the environment, promoting a thoughtful balance between consumption and stewardship.
This flexible resource offers ideas for holding animal-themed worship events or services, providing a space to give thanks for animals and reflect on our responsibilities towards them. From planning a pet-friendly event to using discovery points and prayer stations, there’s plenty of inspiration for creative, missional engagement with your community.
Perfect for churches in rural areas, or any community with a passion for animals, this resource includes worship materials, prayers, fascinating facts about animal welfare, and music suggestions. Whether you choose to organise a special service or adapt the ideas into your regular Sunday worship, this is an excellent opportunity to build connections and encourage care for God’s creation.
Download the Beyond Consumerism resource now and plan an event that honours St Francis’ love for all creatures!
World Environment Day
/in Latest News, Other Resources /by ARC Comms TeamIt is imperative that we care for our world. The challenges are rising.
We hope that this new resource will be helpful to you in bringing the urgent need to care for the environment before church congregations.
Featuring helpful articles, prayers, liturgy, music suggestions and craft activities, Revd Helen Bent has once again brought a thoughtful and accessible resource before us.
Download now in preparation for the day.
Please let us know when you use this, and send us pictures or news articles for us to feature on the web site, in our newsletter and in social media – thank you.
Earth Day resource for churches and groups – April 22nd 2024
/in Latest News, Other Resources /by Matt JeffreyWe are delighted to bring our new resource to you for 2024, focused on Earth Day on April 22nd this year.
Continuing our Beyond Consumerism focus, it explores how our care for creation is essential with the many challenges including the climate crisis.
It contains a helpful outline and history of the day, insightful thoughts and reflections, together with service, prayer and worship music suggestions.
Let us know where you use this, and if you can, please send us pictures to share, either by email or via our Social Media.
Click here to download – ARC Earth Day A4 2024
The power of a bacon butty
/0 Comments/in Latest News /by Matt JeffreyChaplain Revd Nick Read, Borderlands rural chaplain, tells how farmers are gathering for more than a sandwich in Shropshire.
The original ‘Butty Van’, a farmers’ breakfast hosted each month on a different farm, was launched in 2017 in south Shropshire by Borderlands Rural Chaplaincy (BRC). We had investigated purchasing a van but decided that it was too expensive and too much hassle to maintain, insure and store, however the name stuck. The Butty Van is, in reality, essentially a camping stove, taken to the farm by a dedicated team of volunteers who cook the bacon and make tea and coffee. The volunteers come from the local parishes and Methodist Chapels (Borderlands is a joint Anglican-Methodist Chaplaincy), and the Chaplaincy team are represented at each event by two or three Chaplains.
The attraction to farmers is that they don’t need to change to come, they meet friends, and they can see what’s happening on a different farm each month. The farmer provides the venue, BRC trains the team, does the health and safety assessments, and arranges for the necessary food hygiene certificates. Although flyers and texts are used to advertise each breakfast, the best advertisement is word of mouth and personal recommendation.
The Shropshire Butty Van is routinely attracting 50 farmers each month. Pre-Covid, we took the Archbishop of Canterbury to visit the Butty Van and enjoy the experience. Although lockdown prevented them from taking place, as soon as it ended they started again and are going from strength to strength. Within the last year we have launched a second Butty Van in northwest Herefordshire (average attendances are over 30) and there is momentum gaining for a third van in the south of the county.
The breakfasts are both hugely enjoyable and important. The farming mental health action framework published in 2019 by Alisha Davies emphasised the need to deliver ‘support through non-health professionals’ (i.e. other professionals linked to agriculture with knowledge of farming life), and to draw on ‘existing, or build strong local links between agricultural agencies, community organisations and health services leading to sustainable rural community capacity.’
The Butty Van enables both of those to happen, providing an interface between the farming community, chaplaincy, and mental health professionals. We facilitate this by highlighting any issues raised at the breakfasts to two local strategic forums of which Borderlands is a member: the Herefordshire Mental Health Partnership Board and the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Suicide Prevention Project Advisory Group.
We have evaluated the van scheme and found:
It works best in a 20-mile radius, otherwise it’s too far to travel and loses continuity.
Butty Vans are more effective if the local market chaplain is also a member of the team, because it fosters networking.
The church is well equipped to enable community resilience because it already has local contacts who act as advocates.
The relationships that develop extend to the churches and chapels who provide the volunteers. As farmers get to know congregational members, barriers begin to break down.
The Shropshire group requested that the last meeting each Christmas should be a carol service!
Could you be a Treasurer Trustee for the ARC ?
/0 Comments/in Latest News /by Matt JeffreyThe Arthur Rank Centre is currently seeking a new Trustee with a strong financial background to join us.
You will join a board with a wealth of experience and skill with representatives of both the national ecumenical churches and farming communities.
The ARC has for over 50 years sought to offer support, guidance, resources and training for the rural church, rural communities and to support farming. You will be joining the charity at an exciting time of its development, as together we plan for new programmes and activities.
This particular role is to support the finances of the charity, offering a Treasurer role to the Trustee board, and working alongside the Chair of Trustees and the CEO to steer and guide the finances and report to the board.
Trustees meet 4 times per year – twice online and twice in person at the charity offices in Warwickshire.
Additionally, the Treasurer Trustee would lead and attend an online Finance sub-group who meet 4 times a year in advance of the Trustees meetings.
The Treasurer Trustee would be expected to meet regularly both virtually and in person with the CEO to plan the budget in accordance with the strategy set/agreed by the Trustees and CEO, to monitor the ongoing financial spend against the budget and to monitor the charity’s investments.
We seek a Treasurer Trustee with a strong financial background, acumen and ability, able to examine, report, offer guidance and insights to the board, such that the charity is steered effectively.
As a Christian charity, Trustees are expected to be a practising Christian, or in sympathy with the faith, culture, ethos and aims of the charity.
Trustees for the ARC serve for an initial 3-year term, and this may be extended for a maximum further 3 years.
To express an interest in this role, or for an initial conversation, please contact our Chair of Trustees, Professor David Pink via info@arthurrankcentre.org.uk
References will be sought for this role, and the position will be in line with the Charities Commission, such that you must be eligible to act as a Charity Trustee.
Expenses will be reimbursed for out-of-pocket costs attributable to the role.
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Email us: info@arthurrankcentre.org.uk
Call us: 024 7685 3060
Find us: The View, 9 Barford Exchange, Wellesbourne Road, Barford, Warwick. CV35 8AQ