A vintage plough was led into Thaxted Church on Plough Sunday for blessing as a sign of support for the farming community.
Plough Sunday Church Services traditionally mark the start of the agricultural year.
The plough was blessed by Robin King, the Archdeacon of Stansted, and the service was attended by the Thaxted Morris Men and members of the local farming community. It was followed by a ploughman’s lunch.
One of the farmers recalled the events of the past year and children brought soil and produce to be blessed.
Agricultural Chaplain, Reverend Janet Nicholls said: “Farming practices have changed over the years but support for those who work on the land is as necessary now as in the past.”
Plough Sunday is traditionally held on the Sunday after Epiphany. Accordingly, work in the fields did not begin until the next day, which became Plough Monday.
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