New chaplain in the market for rural life

The market was crowded, but there were no livestock in the ring. Instead there were rows of chairs, with the civic dignitaries, wearing their chains of office, in the front row. Extra seating had to be accommodated in the ring itself, with the tiers normally used by the bidders, filled to capacity.

From his usual place on the auctioneer's rostrum, Clive Roads welcomed everyone, expressing the delight of McCartneys that their market was the chosen venue.

"We had to arrange it on a Monday evening, avoiding sale days," he explained. "We value our association with the Agricultural Chaplaincy, remembering that Rev John Willis was a familiar figure here, mingling with farmers on sale days, and he came to bless our new market when it was opened."

David Goodwin, chairman of the Diocesan Agricultural and Rural Life Committee, who farms at Earls Croome, paid tribute to Canon John Willis, who retired last year, especially for his unstinting commitment to those severely affected by the foot-and-mouth epidemic, when so many livestock were destroyed.

"We are thrilled to have found a worthy successor in Robert Barlow," he said.

More than 30 of his former parishioners had travelled all the way from Crick, Northampton, where he was rector with four parishes, and was the Bishop of Peterborough's Rural Officer.

"You will certainly find him a lively and cheerful character," one of them told me, at the festive supper after the service.

The Bishop of Worcester, The Right Rev Peter Selby, led the service from the auctioneer's rostrum. The acoustics proved excellent for the four rousing hymns, accompanied by an electric organ.

The lessons were read by David Goodwin and Demelza Audis, chairman of the Worcestershire Young Farmers.

In his address, the Bishop spoke of our troubled agriculture, saying: "How can we take no thought for tomorrow in a rural economy that has taken such a battering in recent years?

"Crises make good headlines and are equally quickly forgotten. We feel a real sense of pride that we had the opportunity, through the Chaplaincy, to stand alongside those in trouble.

"The Chaplaincy is not some eccentricity on the edge, for the Church is a part of the rural economy, as much as of the urban economy, often the last remaining focus in a village. It is not Them and Us, only Us in the rural environment.

"The prophets' and Christ's messages are really about a world in which the well-being of one is the well-being of all; about one not profiting at another's expense.

"I would like to promise our new Chaplain that he will not encounter another crisis.

"But we have the promise of a God who reassures the faithful through turbulence and change. Those who care for people know their trials, but also the strength that sustains them. Those who have suffered most know it best."

After his commissioning and licensing by the Bishop, up in the auctioneer's rostrum, Mr Barlow received welcoming handshakes from representatives of 10 organisations involved in agriculture and rural life.

When his turn came, Terry Hill, NFU county chairman, said: "We look forward to you visiting our farms, but look out for our dogs!"

Mr Barlow's determination to be licensed in an agricultural venue was readily agreed to by the Church authorities.

"It was a sign that the Church must go out to people where they live and work," he declared. Worcester Market proved the ideal place.

I could recall a previous link. Our first full-time agricultural chaplain in the diocese, Rev Brian Druce, was an auctioneer by profession. He was a man of many parts and he was in demand at charity auctions.

There have been momentous changes over the last 40 years both in the Church and in the rural economy and the life of the countryside. In the 1960s Britain was struggling to repay her debts from the Second World War, home food production was vital for the balance of payments and farmers were enabled to receive a fair price for their produce. The national system was well regulated with standard quantities avoiding over production.

Under the Common Market, control shifted to Brussels. The protectionist system ensured higher farm prices and the consumer had to pay for dearer food. With no effective capping of output, there were "grain mountains" and "wine lakes", expensive surpluses. Reform of the CAP has had to come and every farmer must come to terms with it.

Just as Church congregations have been dwindling, we have seen fewer and fewer farmers on larger and larger farms.

Many farmhouses have been sold off, along with farm buildings converted for new dwellers in the countryside. Countless farm workers and their families have had to find a new way of life.

Mr Barlow, who will be based in Martley, has a big task ahead, but he has strong backing from his two associate, part-time chaplains, Rev Matthew Baynes, at Bredon, and Rev Louise Grace, at Stanford Bridge, and by an active Chaplaincy committee.