Rural Support to hold annual service of Remembrance & Thanksgiving for farming community
Rural Support and Embrace FARM are warmly inviting members of the farming and wider agri-community to attend their Life Beyond Service of Remembrance & Thanksgiving on Sunday, 7th June 2026 at 2.30pm in St. John’s Church of Ireland, Moneymore.
Clergy from both the Church of Ireland and the Catholic Church will participate in the service, while praise and worship will be led by The Farmers’ Choir.
At the service, those attending will be able to participate in the Tree of Life Ceremony, which emphasises the continued connection of love whilst offering comfort to those whose loved ones have passed away. There is also a Roll Call of Names which shall be read by Gyles Dawson, Director of Programmes at Rural Support.
"For many people, grief can feel very personal and isolating, but remembrance can also be a shared experience,” said Gyles Dawson. “By inviting families to place a wooden leaf bearing a loved one’s name at the front of the church, we create a collective tribute that reflects the lives, memories and legacies of those who are no longer with us. The reading of names is another powerful moment, giving families the opportunity to hear their loved one acknowledged and remembered within the wider community. These gestures may seem small, but they can provide great comfort and meaning to those who are grieving.”
If you would like your loved one’s name included, please contact the Farm Support Unit at Rural Support on 028 8676 0040 or email [email protected]
Light refreshments will be served after the service, giving families and individuals the opportunity to meet together and support one another.
The Life Beyond Programme, delivered by Rural Support in partnership with Embrace FARM, provides a unique combination of farm business and counselling support, specifically tailored to the needs of the farm family. The aim of the programme is to improve the mental, social, and physical wellbeing of farm families who have experienced loss or trauma, as well as provide support with the farming enterprise. Services are all provided at no cost to the farming family and are delivered in an empathetic and confidential manner.
A recent participant of the Life Beyond programme said “It is a very good service which I was glad of at the time. Rural support was of great help to me when I needed it most”.
If you would like to find out more about the Life Beyond programme or the range of services and programmes available at Rural Support, go to the NI Farm Support hub at www.ruralsupport.org.uk or telephone the Support Line on Freephone 0800 138 1678 available Mon-Fri 9am-9pm.