AN ancient church ceremony has been held in Cheshire.
A horse-drawn plough was blessed at St Luke’s Church in Goostrey on Sunday.
The annual service is traditionally held on the Sunday after Epiphany, known as Plough Sunday, and celebrates farming and the work of farmers.
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A rusting antique plough used by Ray Brown and his family was at the centre of the congregation.
The old contraption was used for crops by the Browns at Biddulph before the family moved to Orchards Farm at Twemlow.
Now it is stored and brought out once a year for the service of blessing the plough by local farmers in the barn at Orchards Farm, hosted by Ray and his wife Jill.
The service was conducted by the vicar of Goostrey, Rev Canon Christine Broad, who confessed it had been a first for her.
Before her appointment to the village a year ago, her ministry had been among urban communities.
Prayers were said to bless the land and work of farmers.
Traditionally, work in the fields did not begin until after Plough Sunday.
The service was followed by refreshments provided by the Brown family.
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