Meet Lincolnshire’s Rural Chaplains
Rev Canon Alan Robson
MSc FRAgS FRAS – Lead 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 21 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 Peter Lister SSC
Revd Peter has lived and worked in Lincolnshire for all of his life. After leaving Shuttleworth Agricultural College he became a tenant farmer on the Grimsthorpe Estate in the south of the county, before going on to work for Centaur Grain (formerly Lingrain) at Boston.
Ordained in 2010 Revd Peter is Associate Priest in the Edenham benefice and part of the ministry team at the Edenham Regional House.
Revd Peter says that, ‘it will be a great privilege and joy to minister as an Associate Agricultural Chaplain to the agricultural community of Lincolnshire, a community that is close to my heart. I see my role as responding to the needs of farmers by listening, making visits and offering pastoral support. I also aim to be a visible presence at as many farming events as possible.’
The Venerable Dr Justine Allain Chapman, Archdeacon of Boston, said that, ‘I hope and pray that this ministry will be a blessing to Peter and to many.’
Revd Peter lives on the edge of the Lincolnshire fens with his wife Pauline and their dog Jacob. He is a life-long supporter of Nottingham Forest FC as well as enjoying cricket, birdwatching, the poetry of John Clare, and all things Italian.
Rev Al Jenkins
Al was ordained as Deacon at Lincoln Cathedral in 2018. Al’s career prior to this was in the Royal Air Force where he completed 35 years of service as the Community Support Warrant Officer at a large Lincolnshire RAF Station.
Al has a love for the countryside, he grew up in Northern Ireland and Northumberland. He particularly remembers long family walks in the area around the Mourn Mountains and the occasional cake as the family trooped via the farm to the beautiful beaches near Longhoughton.
Al served his curacy at St Botolph’s church in Quarrington near Sleaford where he learned to understand the day-to-day life of a minister. This included being involved with the Church School and their vision for the students; young people’s activities and pastoral visiting. Al is drawn towards relationship building and hopes that this will help him as he increases his presence within the agricultural setting.
Al was ordained priest in 2019 and after completing his Curacy he was appointed as the Priest in Charge of the North Lafford group of parishes in June 2021. He was commissioned as an Associate Agricultural Chaplain after an initial chat with the Archdeacon of Lincoln where he had expressed an interest in the efficacy of Chaplaincy mission. Whilst getting to know the parishes Al has been able to combine his Parish and Chaplaincy duties by dropping into farms or offices on his travels around the area.
Al has begun networking with the clergy in the Archdeaconry of Lincoln which he hopes will give him a better understanding of the challenges faced within that large geographical area. He has made a number of local farming contacts who are gently guiding him in understanding the agricultural landscape.
One of Al’s first farming contacts now provides him with the Farmer’s Weekly. Whilst no expert Al does enjoy reading this and of course watching Countryfile.
Al is married to Jayne, and they love to take their dog Bertie on walks around the wonderful Lincolnshire countryside. Jayne is a Lincolnshire girl, and her favourite Lincolnshire food is Plum Loaf with some Poacher Cheese, as a good husband that is Al’s too.
Al is looking forward to meeting the people of Greater Lincolnshire and, along with his colleagues, developing the Chaplaincy ministry over the coming months and years.
Rev Sue Hentley
Born and raised in “The Fen” Rev Sue Hentley is a farmer’s daughter. Agriculture has always been a draw, even in her choice of work, starting at Johnson’s seeds in training and becoming a certified seed analyst. Then working at Anglican Soil Analysis helping in various testing procedures including P.C.N work. Rev Sue finished at Elsom’s seeds in the wheat breeding department as Wheat Purification Officer before retiring during the first year of the Covid pandemic.
As ordained local minister, Rev Sue is an assistant curate at the Haven group of churches (Swineshead, Bicker, Donington, Wigtoft, and Sutterton.)
During her working life Rev Sue has walked many fields and observed the changing seasons and she says of her new Associate Chaplaincy role “I would like to think my ministry as associate agricultural chaplain would be to walk with farmers and rural communities, and together, help meet their, and our, changing seasons that lie ahead.”
Rev Sue still lives in “the fen” approximately three quarters of a mile from where she was brought up!
To contact a Chaplain in an emergency ring Rev Canon Alan Robson 07542272049