It has been a full couple of months for Rev. Catherine Wylie our new Agricultural and Rural Chaplain. She has been busy getting to know people and promoting the work of chaplaincy. 

Here is what she has to say about her first few months in her own words. 

“Barely getting the usual paperwork and routine induction modules under my belt, I jumped quickly into the busy schedule of meeting and greeting everyone at the Lincolnshire Show. It was good to see so many of you from the farming communities; it was two very busy, hot and memorable days. It was great to make so many of those important connections, share some time with LRSN colleagues and speak to many people about what a rural chaplain does and how it can impact their lives in a variety of agricultural communities. It was particularly poignant to bless the ears of corn in a short service remembering those who we mourn, want to simply remember, or celebrate their lives and the show provided an ideal opportunity to come together to remember those whom we miss in appropriate surroundings.

In the picture – The Bishop of Grimsby The Rt Revd Jean Burgess, Rev Catherine Wylie, Emma Camm HR/HS advisor for the Diocese of Lincoln & The Venerable Eleonor Robertshaw Archdeacon of Stow & Lindsey at the Lincolnshire Show 2026.

No sooner was the show packed away, when the BBC came round the corner to film an episode of Countryfile about the Viking Way which, many of you will know Meryl Ward walked to raise money for this post – no pressure there! I was filmed on Jonathan Brant’s farm at Normanby le Wold, along with Jonathan and his cows. The programme provided a great opportunity to show not only the historic interest and beauty of Lincolnshire, but especially the commitment to chaplaincy there is amongst the agricultural communities. The coverage has prompted interest from a variety of places far and wide and new contacts and interest in what we are doing have been formed.

Photo from 2024, Revd Catherine with walkers, Sue Cooper, Meryl Ward, Rosie James and Colin Faulkner in Caistor Market Place, on the second day of the Viking Walk between Barnetby and Walesby. 

I have of course, mainly enjoyed meeting people, those who are the real reason I am here today, those for whom a helping hand, a listening ear and a passion to help, support and encourage and walk with, are the focus of why being a chaplain to rural and farming communities is a great privilege and so I look forward to the coming months with enthusiasm and anticipation.

I also enjoyed a very enjoyable evening at the Farmers choir and hope to see some of you joining us there – first Thursday of every month Bailgate Methodist – it will lift your spirits!”

Rev. Catherine

The Farmers & Friends Singing Group that Rev. Catherine mentioned meets at 6.30 pm till 8.00 pm on the first Thursday of the month at Bailgate Methodist Church in Lincoln. No audition needed. All welcome. We would love a few new voices to sing with us. Check out our events page for dates till the end of the year. 

Also if you perfer to listen to singing then the group will be out performing from September to December check the events page for when and where you can hear them sing. 

If you would like to find out more about our new chaplain, Rev. Catherine go to our Chaplains page.