Templederry Church Revives and Renews Ancient Custom

Sunday the 12th of January will see the revival of an ancient agricultural custom, traditionally known as ‘Plough Sunday’, by the Church of Ireland Nenagh Union of Parishes. In ancient times, the feast of Christmas was observed as a long break in the agricultural year when no non-urgent work was undertaken. After the feast, the village plough, which was usually held in common, was taken to the parish church to be blessed before the first breaking of the soil in the New Year.

This custom fell into disuse a couple of centuries ago but is now going to be revived in Templederry Church of Ireland Church at 11 am on Sunday the 12th with a new emphasis. Whilst the ancient idea of blessing farming tools and praying for an abundant return on the farmer’s work will take place as in past times, the service will also be one in which the physical safety and mental health of those who work the land to put food on our tables will be addressed.

As part of this renewal of the custom for modern times, Embrace FARM, embracefarm.com an agricultural charity support network for farm families who have lost a loved one or suffered serious injury in a farming accident, will be taking part in the service and its Business Development Manager, Catherine Kenneally from Templemore will give the Address during the service.

The service is open to people of all and no particular faith to attend and those who come are invited to bring with them some symbol of their relationship to the gifts of the land that they wish to be blessed be it a spade, a beehive frame, a milk churn, a pot of soil from their land, some seeds or even a tractor!

Ending on a suitably agricultural theme, the service will be followed by refreshments served in a barn beside the church.