500 people attended a harvest service at Sherborne Abbey on the 28th September 2025.
This was to celebrate the work carried out by The Farming Community Network (FCN) in support of the rural community. The charity has a wide network of volunteers across England and Wales who support people in need.
The event was organised by FCN’s Dorset Group – a passionate group of volunteers who work tirelessly to promote the work of FCN by organising events and when required working with families on a one-to-one basis. FCN volunteers will ‘walk with’ people, helping them through times of difficulty and change.
Thanks to the Rector of Sherborne Abbey, Martin Lee, who hosted this event and provided the Choir led by Mr James Henderson, the music director, alongside a quarter peel of Bells in FCN’s honour.
The event was attended by farmers, rural landowners, dignitaries and our allied industries, to celebrate what is produced, achieved and demonstrate the resilience of our farming Community.
Thank you to the 45 businesses and producers that sponsored the event either with funds of over £5,000 and hampers for the raffle. 29 beautiful hampers were won.
After the service all were welcome to join at the Memorial Hall for refreshments catered for by Dorset Delights.
Dorset Young Farmers also attended and helped within the Service, decorating the entrance, ushering guests, and Silas Horsington from Sherborne Young Farmers read a reading.
FCN’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jude McCann, said: “Thank you to our generous and caring volunteers, trustees and colleagues for a truly uplifting and inspiring service. It is thanks to the hard work of our local volunteers and their close connections to farming that we are able to build relationships and help people to find a positive way forward. This was a beautiful service and a true testament to the hard work and resilience of UK farmers.”
Photographs: credit to Nigel Gidney.
