Archbishop Visits Butty Van's Tenth Anniversary Celebrations

During her visit to the Hereford Diocese as the guest of The Right Reverend Richard Jackson, Bishop of Hereford, The Most Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, Archbishop of Canterbury, dropped in on the Shropshire BRC Butty Van. She met and chatted with members of the farming community to discuss aspects of farming life, including mental health and the work of the Borderlands Butty Vans which this year celebrate ten years of, on-farm pastoral care for farmers and their families. Currently four butty vans host butty breakfasts in different locations namely, Leominster, Shropshire, Warwickshire and the Black Mountains & Golden Valley area.

Following the visit, BRC Chaplain Nick Read commented, ”Entertaining the Archbishop of Canterbury at the Shropshire BRC Butty Van, provided a worthwhile opportunity to raise the rural, and especially farming, profile. Judging from her summarising comments, she had talked to most of the farmers who came and thoroughly enjoyed her visit.”  He added, “National churches are often urban focussed, as inevitably they look to the centres of population, so it is always important to remind church leaders that rural mission has a heart and community focus second to none. Perhaps we should extend an invitation to government ministers to follow her lead, and come and meet our local farmers over a bacon butty and a cup of coffee!”

You can click here to see Butty Van dates.

Photos: Neil Turner for Lambeth Palace