All are welcome to join us for our annual Blessing of the Plough service where we celebrate Kent’s farming traditions.

Plough Sunday, a time-honored tradition that welcomes Kent's farming and agricultural communities to our cathedral. Originating in Victorian times but rooted in an ancient custom after the twelve days of Christmas, this observance involved bringing the communal plough to the church for divine blessings. The village would celebrate, dance, and pause at pubs as the plough made its rounds. Farmers contributing to the plough's upkeep also supported the church, fostering a sense of community and emphasizing God's providence in our work and daily lives. A perpetual 'plough-light' in some churches symbolized this divine guidance.

Though village ploughs and January ploughing are rare due to changes in agricultural practices, Plough Sunday remains a testament to the importance of community, cooperation, and acknowledging God's centrality in our labour and worship. It's a poignant invocation for blessings on human endeavours at the year's outset, reminding us of our interconnectedness and the divine presence in our work.

Preacher: Victoria Vyvyan, President of the CLA, Country Land and Business Association

Supported by AC Goatham & Son