Rogation Sunday 2026: Remembering, Lamenting, and Looking Forward

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As we approach Rogation Sunday on 10th May, the Arthur Rank Centre is reflecting on a significant milestone in our rural history.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the 2001 Foot and Mouth epidemic, a period that redefined the British countryside and left an indelible mark on our farming communities.

A Season of Reflection

Rogationtide is traditionally a time to ask for God’s blessing on the land and the coming harvest. However, this year’s anniversary calls for a deeper focus on lament and resilience.

 

The 2001 epidemic saw the loss of over 6 million animals and the disappearance of bloodlines that had been nurtured for generations. Many still remember the “silence that reigned across the countryside” and the heavy toll taken on the mental health and livelihoods of farming families.

In partnership with the Cumbria Agricultural Chaplaincy and the North West England Methodist District, we have produced a comprehensive set of resources to help churches and rural communities mark this anniversary with “sensitivity, humility, and sacred order”.

As one farmer simply put it when asked if we should still mark the epidemic: “We shouldn’t forget!”

 

What’s Included in the Resource?

The Rogation 2026 PDF includes:

  • Prayers of Lament: Space to acknowledge the past hardship and the “silence” of 2001.

  • Prayers of Confession & Thanksgiving: Reflecting on our role as stewards of creation and celebrating the current health of our restocked fells and farms.

  • Hymn for Rogation: Featuring “The vision of earth from the viewpoint of space” by Andrew Pratt, which calls us to “shoulder anew” our heritage of care.

  • Call to Worship & Intercessions: Focusing on food security, policy-making, and the well-being of the next generation of farmers.


Download the Resource

Whether you are planning a traditional “Beating the Bounds” procession, a farm-based service, or a quiet prayer walk, these materials are designed to be adapted to your local context.

Click Here to download the new Rogation 2026 PDF

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Revd David Newlove, Beverley Jones, and Chris Swift for their work in authoring these moving prayers and reflections.

If you find this resource useful, please consider supporting The Arthur Rank Centre with a small regular donation – click Donate below to find out more.