The Source

Taking place on World Food Day, the service, which closed British Food Fortnight, was both a thanksgiving for farmers and a reminder of those challenged by hunger. 

In a special message of support for the National Harvest Service, His Majesty King Charles III stated: ‘It is a time of year to give thanks to the custodians of our land in a tradition that stretches back centuries yet remains ever relevant. Their labour is the foundation of our food production, the heartbeat of rural communities and vital to the protection of the natural landscapes we all treasure so dearly.

‘The particular resolve and resilience they have demonstrated through the challenges of our changing climate in recent years deserves our utmost admiration and gratitude, particularly in a year in which the weather has made growing anything so very difficult. Our hearts go out to those who are struggling, especially as winter approaches, those with livestock.’

Founder of Love British Food, Alexia Robinson said: “Today’s service gives thanks to our farmers for the food they produce, whilst also acknowledging that many people do not have enough to eat.” 

As the lead organisation of the service, Love British Food has forged partnerships with food redistribution and food bank charities – Trussell, The Felix Project, the Coronation Food Project, and City Harvest – with volunteers joining in prayers for the relief of hunger and suffering. 

In recognition of this, Bishop Andrew Rumsey, Bishop of Ramsbury gave a special address during the service, highlighting the importance of sharing and caring for those less fortunate.

Alexia Robinson added: “There is much to celebrate. We are fortunate to live in a country with four seasons, ‘the warmth to swell the grain, the breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain’; a wonderfully varied topography with fells, dales, moors, plains, valleys, marsh, pasture, and coast; and a vibrant farming community that, despite relentless challenges, continues to succeed in producing some of the highest quality food in the world. 

“From our cattle and sheep breeds – which are the envy of the world – to our wonderful dairy farmers, to the abundance and rich variety of fruit and vegetables, to nature’s harvest, we are indeed truly blessed.”

The service also included readings from actor Charles Dance OBE and broadcaster Matt Baker MBE. Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, read a specially composed poem as a gift for the Queen.

The congregation featured notable representatives from all the leading farming organisations, as well as MPs and peers from all parties. Volunteers from food distribution charities, farmers, schoolchildren and well-known personalities such as Rick Stein, Henry Dimbleby, Ross Kemp and Dame Arlene Phillips also attended.

A Harvest Torch has travelled the country over recent months, spreading the message of celebrating the harvest, and was carried into Westminster Abbey by NFU President, Tom Bradshaw, at the head of the Offertory Procession which contained harvest boxes designed by children from the John Perryn primary school in Ealing and filled with produce from City Harvest.

Following the service, a posy of flowers was presented to Her Majesty. Created by the London florist, Calluna, the arrangement reflected the narrative of Poet Laureate’s poem.

Outside the Abbey, beautiful harvest displays were provided either side of the entrance by Peter Thomas of New Spitalfields Market and in The Great West Door by lead retail sponsor of Love British Food, Morrisons.

An abundant floral and foliage arch featuring British-grown flowers, grasses, brackens, fruits and vegetables in an autumnal colour palette was also on display, made by Calluna and sponsored by London butchers HG Walter.

Also present was a vintage grey and gold Massey Ferguson 35 tractor complete with Ferguson 35cwt trailer, provided by Peter Drinkwater, a second-generation farmer from Gloucestershire. The trailer was filled with fresh produce which, along with all the food in the displays was distributed after service by City Harvest and The Felix Project to four community projects; The Abbey Centre, Tachbrook Youth & Social Club, King George’s Hostel, and Mary Smith Pantry.

The message that echoed throughout the day was one of triumph over adversity and hope for the future. The mission of Love British Food has never been more pertinent than at this year’s National Harvest Service – championing British food from field to fork.

King's message:

Today is a most wonderful way to celebrate our Lord’s bounty through this year’s National Harvest Service in the magnificent setting of Westminster Abbey.

It is a time of year to give thanks to the custodians of our land in a tradition that stretches back centuries, yet remains ever relevant. Their labour is the foundation of our food production, the heartbeat of rural communities and vital to the protection of the natural landscapes we all treasure so dearly. The particular resolve and resilience they have demonstrated through the challenges of our changing climate in recent years deserves our utmost admiration and gratitude — particularly in a year in which the weather has made growing anything so very difficult. Our hearts go out to those who are struggling especially, as Winter approaches, those with livestock.

I am so pleased that there are so many volunteers and others at this Service who are working to deliver surplus food to those most in need. This includes those working tirelessly with my Coronation Food Project. Your ingenuity, kindness and determination that no one should go hungry creates a life-line of food supply to thousands every week.

Celebrating the harvest by gathering together to give thanks for the food from the land is something that is shared by communities all over the world and I am so delighted that this tradition is continuing with a National Harvest Service in a different part of the country every Autumn. As you honour that tradition here today, may it be an opportunity to reflect anew on the refrain from that great harvest-tide hymn:

All good gifts around us are sent from heav‘n above;

Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord, for all His love.

CHARLES R.

Simon Armitage CBE, Poet Laureate:

DRESSED with a length of lining paper the wooden trestle table sagged and groaned with the heavy bounty of home produce.

Cabbages mooned like the faces of saints in da Vinci’s Last Supper; onions were squat bottles of precious oils on a market stall next to sacred orbs of beefsteak tomatoes and artichoke crowns.

But the bread was the thing, a giant loaf in wheat sheaf form, baked and glazed to a gold that might have glowed in the dark, stove-heat cradled in its plaits and folds.

Alone after Sunday School in the church hall I stood on tiptoes, poked my finger through the toasted crust and hooked out the plain white flesh – I wanted to taste the words of the hymn, I wanted to feast on food made only of summer and rain. 

Bread of Heaven

Simon Armitage (b 1963)