Choral Evensong

Choral Evensong
with the Blessing of the Plough and Seed
Sung by the Cathedral Choir
Preacher The Rt Revd Simon Burton Jones, Bishop of Tonbridge
OCHESTER CATHEDRAL
SUNDAY 14TH JANUARY 2024 AT 15:15
Today, we honor 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 labor and worship. It’s a poignant invocation for blessings on human endeavors at the year’s outset, reminding us of our interconnectedness and the divine presence in our work.