Diocesan News
Ulster Farmers’ Union Centenary Service
The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr John Boyle, joined local church leaders at a cross–community service in Londonderry’s Guildhall last Saturday to celebrate the centenary of the Ulster Farmers’ Union.
Senior figures from the farming industry took part in the service, along with the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, the Rt Rev Ken Good, the Bishop of Derry, Dr Donal McKeown, the Rev Paul Linkens from Ebrington Presbyterian Church and the Rev Richard Johnston from Clooney Hall Methodist Church.
The service celebrated ‘faith in farming’ and featured readings from scripture, prayers for the farming community, communal hymn–singing and performances by Codetta choir.
The address was given by the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Rev Dr Laurence Graham, whose grandfather was a former President of the UFU.
Dr Graham described agriculture and farming as a partnership with God – “a partnership that God has ordained to provide food for all”. God drenches the furrows, Dr Graham said, but it’s not God that ploughs the furrows in the first place.
Dr Graham asked those present – in the midst of all they were celebrating – whether they were partnering with God. “As we celebrate this wonderful centenary, and as we celebrate the importance of agriculture and the crucial role of farmers in feeding the world, as we celebrate the fact that farmers are partners of God in their work, so I ask you: ‘Are you partnering with God in your life? And if not, why not, because he only wants what is best for you?’”
During the service, a collection was taken up for the UFU’s chosen charity this year, Air Ambulance NI. The Union’s President, Ivor Ferris, said that with three months still to go the UFU had already exceeded its £100,000 fundraising target.
Soil from all six counties in Northern Ireland was blessed at the event and it will be used to plant a commemorative tree in the Greenmount campus of the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise.
For further information please contact:
Diocesan Communications Officer, Derry & Raphoe
Mr Paul McFadden
028 7126 2440
07525 826290
press@derryandraphoe.org