Sandridge church to celebrate Harvest Festival after ‘extremely challenging year’ for farmers

St Leonard’s Church in Sandridge is holding a Harvest Festival service with farmers and their families.

The service will be held at 6pm on Sunday, October 7 for the Hertfordshire branch of the National Farmers’ Union.

St Leonard’s vicar, Rev Em Coley, said: “We are delighted to be holding this service for the farming community in the county. Farmers and their families perform a vital role for society and are under great pressure.”

NFU Hertfordshire county chairman Jamie Burrows said: “We’re grateful to St Leonard’s Church for hosting this service, which comes after an extremely challenging year, weather-wise, for farmers.”

In a message to be read at the service, the Bishop of St Albans Rt Rev Alan Smith wrote: “At this time of uncertainly, with Brexit looming, we want to work with you to ensure that we maintain the highest levels of food security, food quality and animal welfare possible.”

All the money given at the service will go to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution.