PLOUGH SUNDAY AT EBRINGTON

for 1 hour
St Eadburgha's Church
St Eadburgha's Church, Ebrington

JOIN US FOR PLOUGH SUNDAY AT EBRINGTON - TIME 9:30 AM DATE 21ST JAN
On 21st January at 9:30 am we will be joining with Ebrington congregation and friends from Blockley for a special service for Plough Sunday which is traditionally held in Ebrington. It will be a “service of the word” with prayer and readings as we ask God to bless the land and those who work with it.

For people wishing to receive Holy Communion there will still be a traditional said Communion service at St.Lawrence at 11:15 am.

Some background information on Plough Sunday published by the Diocese of Winchester.

Plough Sunday is thought to be a very ancient festival, abandoned at the Reformation and then revived by the Victorians. Traditionally it was celebrated on the first Sunday after Epiphany, which falls on 6 January, and then ploughing began the next day, Plough Monday. Since Victorian times many farms have owned their own plough, so a representative plough was brought into church for a blessing, but in the medieval period, when there was only one plough in each village, the village plough was drawn through the streets to be blessed at the church, and was followed with much food, drinking and revelry. For medieval farmers it was an important occasion. The village plough was cleaned and decorated, it was then dragged to the church to be blessed and for prayers for a good harvest before the start of the new season’s work. During the service the ‘plough light’ - a candle kept lit in the church throughout the year - was paraded ceremonially. After the blessing, the plough was pulled through the village again, led by a Fool and a boy dressed as a woman called a ‘Betsy’. The procession stopped at as many pubs and friendly houses as possible for revellers to demand drinks. Pennies were also collected along route as a contribution towards keeping the plough light going in the church throughout the year - though others say it could have been to boost the kitty for “ale” that evening at the tavern. It would appear that anyone not paying a penny was likely to find a furrow cut across their land by morning! The day ended with a village feast, ale or beer flowed, and the traditional centrepiece was always a large Plough Pudding - a suet pudding stuffed with sausagemeat, bacon, onion, and sage. The recipe is readily available on the internet for anyone who wishes to give it a go. Modern farming practices have changed, of course, and the widespread sowing of winter wheat means that much farming is now carried out in the autumn, but how marvellous to have two opportunities to celebrate the work of our farmers – both at Harvest Festival and on Plough Sunday

St Lawrence, Bourton-on-the-Hill

Welcome to St Lawrence, Bourton-on-the-Hill. We are a small, friendly congregation who worship in a historic church overlooking the Evenlode Valley in the North Cotswolds. We have a service at 11:15 every Sunday except the first Sunday of the month when we have a service of evening prayer with hymns at 6pm. When there is a fifth Sunday in a month we join with other congregations in our benefice for a 9:30 communion service.  PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MONTH THERE WILL BE NO SERVICE AT BOURTON ON THE HILL ON THE 4TH SUNDAY (28th JULY) AS THE PARISHES IN OUR BENEFICE WILL BE JOINING TOGETHER AT EBRINGTON CHURCH FOR A SPECIAL SERVICE FOR LAMMAS SUNDAY AT 9:30 am. 

Our church is Norman with later changes. It is open during daylight hours and visitors are most welcome. It's a peaceful place. We are part of the Quiet Garden Network and we have been given a silver EcoChurch award by A Rocha for our approach to caring for all God's creation.

There is parking in the back lane off the A44 behind the church or in the old school carpark when that building is not being used for community functions. A notice on the wall in the car park lists when these are taking place. The car park is available for church use on Sundays. We look forward to welcoming you!


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Get in touch

The Revd Canon Dana Delap

The Vicarage
High Street
Blockley
Moreton-in-Marsh

GL56 9ES
Dana Delap, Vicar
01386 700676
Philip Gee/ Naomi Morris, Church Wardens
01386 701385/ 853742
What's on

PLOUGH SUNDAY AT EBRINGTON

for 1 hour
St Eadburgha's Church
St Eadburgha's Church, Ebrington

JOIN US FOR PLOUGH SUNDAY AT EBRINGTON - TIME 9:30 AM DATE 21ST JAN
On 21st January at 9:30 am we will be joining with Ebrington congregation and friends from Blockley for a special service for Plough Sunday which is traditionally held in Ebrington. It will be a “service of the word” with prayer and readings as we ask God to bless the land and those who work with it.

For people wishing to receive Holy Communion there will still be a traditional said Communion service at St.Lawrence at 11:15 am.

Some background information on Plough Sunday published by the Diocese of Winchester.

Plough Sunday is thought to be a very ancient festival, abandoned at the Reformation and then revived by the Victorians. Traditionally it was celebrated on the first Sunday after Epiphany, which falls on 6 January, and then ploughing began the next day, Plough Monday. Since Victorian times many farms have owned their own plough, so a representative plough was brought into church for a blessing, but in the medieval period, when there was only one plough in each village, the village plough was drawn through the streets to be blessed at the church, and was followed with much food, drinking and revelry. For medieval farmers it was an important occasion. The village plough was cleaned and decorated, it was then dragged to the church to be blessed and for prayers for a good harvest before the start of the new season’s work. During the service the ‘plough light’ - a candle kept lit in the church throughout the year - was paraded ceremonially. After the blessing, the plough was pulled through the village again, led by a Fool and a boy dressed as a woman called a ‘Betsy’. The procession stopped at as many pubs and friendly houses as possible for revellers to demand drinks. Pennies were also collected along route as a contribution towards keeping the plough light going in the church throughout the year - though others say it could have been to boost the kitty for “ale” that evening at the tavern. It would appear that anyone not paying a penny was likely to find a furrow cut across their land by morning! The day ended with a village feast, ale or beer flowed, and the traditional centrepiece was always a large Plough Pudding - a suet pudding stuffed with sausagemeat, bacon, onion, and sage. The recipe is readily available on the internet for anyone who wishes to give it a go. Modern farming practices have changed, of course, and the widespread sowing of winter wheat means that much farming is now carried out in the autumn, but how marvellous to have two opportunities to celebrate the work of our farmers – both at Harvest Festival and on Plough Sunday

Our Team

Safeguarding

The parish of Bourton-on-the-Hill: St Lawrence is committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and adults. We follow the House of Bishops guidance and policies and have our own Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO). The Diocese of Gloucester’s safeguarding pages contain vital links and information including contacts for the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA) who advises our PSO. If you are concerned that a child or adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm please contact our PSO, Hannah Webb on 07962 236224. or the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser 01452 835516 (Office hours) / 07944 680320 (Out of hours) Out of hours cover at weekends is provided by thirtyone:eight – 0303 003 1111.
If you have immediate concerns about the safety of someone, please contact the police and your local authority Children or Adults Services.