Meet Lincolnshire’s Rural Chaplains
Rev Canon Alan Robson
MSc FRAgS FRAS – Lead Agricultural Chaplain
Alan is a Methodist Minister (Lincoln Circuit) and Ecumenical Canon of Honour Lincoln Cathedral.
Married to “D”, Denise, they have a wonderful daughter Faye, living in London with her husband John and grandson Ivor.
Alan has served as Agricultural Chaplain for over 25 years with ties to other Boards and projects, including the gardening for health project Green Synergy (Charity), which has developed a ‘city farm’ next to the Lincoln Hospital within Abbey Ward. He has initiated various projects through the Lincoln Agricultural Society Educational Committee.
In 2018 was involved in the first “Town Meets Country” event at the ‘Arboretum’ Monks Road Lincoln, this helped promote cohesion and understanding amongst some of the cities more vulnerable families through seeing food and farming in action on their doorstep. Now the Lincolnshire Rural and Agricultural Chaplaincy ( Charity) is a key focus, having more folk going down farm drives to support families and meet whatever needs that are found will be crucial over this next five years.
Alan is also an executive governor at Robert Pattinson Academy, maintaining his desire for young folk to strive and thrive.
He enjoys films and books, loves his Border Terrier Jenny and rescue cat Itsy Bitsy.
“Let’s walk together, dreaming dreams and seeing visions and working to realise them. Let’s imagine and practice a new ethic for a new creation. We need a new ecological civilization. Let us love, advocate, spread the word, shine light, and show the way. I am convinced this is the way of Jesus for today.”
Rev Catherine Wylie
Rev Catherine has lived and worked in Lincolnshire for over 30 years. Born in Scotland, Catherine has had a long and dedicated career as a nurse and midwife, working across the NHS in a variety of clinical and managerial positions.
Catherine is from a farming family in Wensleydale where her wider family continue to farm in various parts of the Dales. Growing up, she spent much time on her grandparents’ farm experiencing all aspects of farming life which developed her life-long passion for rural living.
Catherine retired from the NHS in 2018 to continue pursuing her ordination training as a Church of England Priest. She has spent 7 very happy years serving as a parish Priest in the Caistor Group of Parishes, participating in all aspects of Parish life in Caistor and the surrounding rural communities.
Catherine has worked in chaplaincy roles for many years, having been a duty chaplain at Lincoln Cathedral and the co-lead in setting up chaplaincy in Primary Care Services across Lincolnshire while working in the NHS. She was also a Trustee on the Board of Lincolnshire Chaplaincy Services and is keen to continue to work within chaplaincy to value and support the agricultural community in their daily experiences of life.
Catherine, recently widowed, lives within the farming community and is passionate about serving the people of rural Lincolnshire in the role of Agricultural Chaplain. She believes it is vital to provide support, show compassion, and engender hope and resilience to those facing the challenges of today’s agricultural economy. Catherine comments, ‘I look forward to working again with Rev. Canon Alan Robson, integrating with partner organisations that importantly, advocate, respond to and raise the profile of challenges to farming, and I am delighted to be serving and sharing with those experiencing difficult times and also cherishing times of celebration and success that ensure farming in Lincolnshire flourishes for the future’.
