By the Revd David Emison, Cumbria District Chair 1998 – 2008
In the Foot and Mouth Crisis of 2001 no area in England, Wales or Scotland was more seriously affected than Cumbria. The distress and misery suffered by so many families across the county was heart-rending.
Farming families were isolated on their farms and living with the daily dread of finding their animals infected. Throughout the spring and summer fields that were normally vibrant with new life were empty and silent and the smoke from burning pyres spread over towns and villages.
In partnership with other agencies serving the county the churches rose to the challenge: a fortnightly briefing including information updates, prayer and worship resources was sent out to ministers and congregations (it is estimated up to 28,000 copies).
The churches organised a farm-gate delivery service, provided volunteers to staff a telephone counselling service, administered the ARC Addington Relief Fund (over one million pounds) and funded a rest and recuperation scheme for individuals traumatised by the crisis. Many other initiatives were taken by local congregations.
The involvement of the churches was possible because like the flocks of Herdwick Sheep on the fells the rural church is a “hefted” community, firmly grounded in the life of local communities. Our response to the crisis left us exhausted but with a deep sense of privilege and more confident of our calling “to care for all without reserve”.