On Sunday 16 January Plough Sunday was celebrated in St John the Evangelist church Langrish with a blessing by Rev Philippa Good.

The observance of this goes back to Victorian times, but behind it there is a much older tradition associated with the first working day after the twelve days of Christmas, hence ‘Plough Monday’ in some places.

Back in mediaeval times the plough was often stored in the parish church over winter months. So early in January, usually the Monday after Epiphany, the farmers would gather in church to get the plough out of hibernation. The farming year would begin with a blessing of the plough and the ploughmen in church.

Afterwards the plough would be pulled through the village to the local inn, where everyone would be fortified with much food, ale and merriment. These days Langrish no longer has a local hostelrie but plenty of merriment.

In addition to the blessing of the plough this year Rev Philippa blessed our new ciborium, which contains the wafers given at the Eucharist.

It is engraved to the special memory of Rosemary Hopewell, of this Parish who died in August 2020. The ciborium contains the wafers given at the Eucharist.

She was friend to many in the village, a benefactor to the church and churchwarden for many years. It is fitting that we have something we can use regularly and to remember her by.