Cornerstone No. 190, page 21
Kirk appoints first ever dedicated “farming minister”
The Church of Scotland has appointed its first ever dedicated "farming minister"
to help support people in the hard-pressed agricultural industry. Rev Chris
Blackshaw visits farms across Ayrshire to provide spiritual and family support,
counselling and encourages people to buy local produce. The 57-year-old also
interacts with young farmer groups, National Farmers Union Scotland
representatives, visits the weekly livestock mart and attends annual agriculture
shows. Mr Blackshaw, a farmer’s son, will also draw together groups of people
linked to the industry like vets, government agencies, livestock mart staff, those
servicing the farming industry and estate workers. A retired police sergeant, he
has experience enabling him
to provide support to people
dealing with a wide range of
issues such as bereavement,
addictions,
illness,
depression, stress, suicide
and isolation.
The "innovative and creative"
Pioneer Ministry post is an
initial five-year appointment
supported by the Church of
Scotland’s Ministries Council
and the Presbytery of Ayr.
The new role has been
warmly welcomed by National Farmers Union Scotland and rural charity RSABI
who say the perilous state of the ailing sector is taking a "serious" toll on the
health and wellbeing of many people who too often "suffer in silence".
Love of Christ
Mr Blackshaw, who was previously a minister to the agricultural community in
Cumbria, said: “I absolutely love my new job and the feedback I have received
since I started in September has been very positive. I was born and bred on a
Derbyshire hill farm and have a good understanding of farming. There are not
many jobs I couldn’t do on a farm so this is the ideal job for me – showing
people the love of Christ by walking alongside them.” Mr Blackshaw, who owns
a smallholding in Cumbria and has seven English long horn cattle, said farming
can be a very isolating profession.
“For some farmers there are not many people who they can turn to and have
a confidential conversation with,” he explained. “I have met vets who have told
me that they often go back to farms, not to look at the animals but to make
sure the farmers are okay.” Rev Blackshaw is from a farming family himself.