Sunday 14th May 2023

Rogation is a time of asking for blessings on the growing crops and livestock, and to ask for guidance in the stewardship of the environment in which we live. Rogation processions are an ancient tradition involving walking around the parish boundary, also known as "beating the bounds", the procession would stop at the boundary markers and other significant landmarks of the parish, such as a venerable tree, a great rock or perhaps a pond. Our Rogation walk in Fradswell takes in stretches of the parish boundary, a boundary marker stone, two of our farms, our Church, our Village Hall and some beautiful lakes. We'll be setting a cross at each point and as this is the sixth year we've done this there will already be five crosses in place and each cross is engraved with the year it was set. Some have started to deteriorate taking the blessings bestowed on them into the earth.  Our aim is to help us strengthen our connection with our surroundings and to say thank you for all the bounty we have and to ask for blessings on all that we see. We also ask for guidance and wisdom to help us sustain our environment as we remind ourselves of how much we depend on the crops in the fields and the farm animals for our food. The walk is around six miles and takes in areas for which special permission has been obtained, which must not be accessed at any other time. Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome, but please be prepared to "clean up" after your dog.

Meet at the village hall at 09-45 ready to begin at 10-00am. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear for traversing uneven ground and stiles. Anyone who does not wish to walk is welcome at the village hall to witness the commencement of this ancient ritual.