FIVE chaplains have been recruited to serve communities in Herefordshire and further afield.

The Borderlands Rural Chaplaincy commissioned the chaplains who will offer pastoral and practical support to farmers and farming communities facing difficult situations.

The commissioning was conducted by the Right Reverend Richard Frith, the Bishop of Hereford, during a service at Leominster Priory Church.

The chaplaincy group is part of the Hereford Diocese and the Shropshire and Marches Methodist Circuit.

As well as Herefordshire the group will cover Shropshire and eastern Powys.

Addressing the congregation, the Rt Rev Alistair Magowan, Bishop of Ludlow, spoke of the changing face of chaplaincy.

"Many of our farmers live a hand to mouth existence, they need encouragement they need to be understood, he said.

"This is about a growing movement of volunteers, of people called as part of the whole people of God, to exercise that caring ministry."

Rt Rev Magowan said he acknowledged the reality of a growing number of farmers being forced to live hand to mouth and the sometimes debilitating pressures many in the farming industry face.

"Many of our farmers are hard pressed at various points and they need help," he said.

"Often they need people to talk to. They need that listening and understanding ear on things to do with crops and animal welfare. All of that is part and parcel of what is needed in terms of pastoral care and support.”

Joining him in support of the idea, Rev Ken Howcroft, president of the Methodist Conference which delivered the sermon at the Priory Church, turned attention to the influence of the elements over which farmers have no control.

“When we do what we can, to the best of our knowledge, the best of our ability, things may still go terribly wrong," he said.

"(But), because we are not the only ones working in the situation, God will still bring about a bumper harvest out of our faithfulness, out of our best action, and best knowledge.

"Despite calamity, God can still bring things to right."

Following the service, Rev Howcroft shared his enthusiasm for a new tide of chaplaincy, operating “outside the normal boundaries of what we used to think of as church".

He said the fact that this is occurring with these partnerships is “just wonderful”.

To contact Borderlands email brc.gwatkin@ymail.com