agricultural,archbishop,archbishops,disciples,farmers,gospel,isolation,loneliness,mission,safeguarding,transparency,vacancy,witness

Miss Hilda M Cowling
Background
I was born in Scarborough ,My Father was Curate at St Thomas’s and we moved to Garton on the
Wolds when I was Seven.
I went to the village school before going to St Hilda’s school in Whitby ( during this time I became
company leader for the school guides and completed the Duke of Edinburgh silver award)
Then I went on to study Dairying at Seale Hayne College in Devon
I finished college and my first job was as a herdsman in Moretonhampstead in Devon. Then I
returned to the East Riding and started working as an Agricultural Relief doing just about
everything you could do, Potatoes Sheep tasks etc.
In 1975 I started work on a small holding with Goats Angus Cattle and Sheep. I worked for the
local Agricultural Relief Agency.
I fell into pig breeding and went to Bishop Burton to do a course in Pig Business Management I
was a member of Driffield Pig Discussion group. I helped (was an assistant for a time ) at Bishop
Burton College. I did an H.N.C. in Pig Business management at Bishop Burton College. I had
always been interested in Beekeeping and so when my dad retired I started beekeeping in a bigger
way. I now have some 120 hives on 15 sites across the North and East Ridings.
During this time I was licensed as a Reader in 1983. I went on to do the Spidr course and later the
Spiritual accompanying course at Wydale Hall and the listening course in Hull.
I have been a member of the Deanery Synod the Diocesan Vacancy in see committee, The
patronage board, The Archbishops Council and the Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Committee. As
a member of the mission and Pastoral Committee I have visited a number of churches across the
diocese.
I am a member of All Saints Church in Great Driffield and have served on the P.C.C.
As a Reader I have led worship in a number of places.
I have an interest in the Ministry of Healing, Pastoral care as well as Celtic ways of worship.
Currently I have a head of Goats and we plan to make Goats milk cheese and also Jersey milk
cheese. Hopefully we will be able to make Goats milk Yoghurt in “ little pots for little people “
I have hives of honey bees across the East and North Ridings.
I am building a team to make cheese and manage the Bees and will now have time to use the
skills and experience I have gathered over the years to help make a difference to the way the
church goes forward.
What I see as the way forward.
1.

The affirmation of the current members of each church. (integration of all members into a
small group for pastoral care, to avoid loneliness and isolation.)
1.

The identification of the part which each plays in the life of the church.

The identification of the gifts which we all have. Perhaps greater use of Myers Briggs or
something similar
1.

Safeguarding to become just as normal as putting on a seatbelt. Second nature not
Controlling
1.

Greater concentration on Living the Gospel within the community. Finding ways in which
the church can connect with the people in the locality. Exploring the surroundings, the
background of each community and church. Learning to do things together and making
inclusion for all the standard not just all for the young, for seniors, for families, for
everyone as the family of God
1.

A clear community way of living rather than it is at the moment a Me and Mine mindset
1.

A Giving rather than A Receiving mind sett where the main driver is
HOW CAN I HELP YOU TO LIVE BETTER
Do we take time to SEE what is happening around us ?
1.

A recognition that we are all different , all have different Skills , Gifts and Abilities and it is
together we make up the whole.
1.

Importance on growing in Faith. In all its fulness. I.e. in the difficult times as well as those
times when all seems to be rosy. LOVE and FORGIVENESS go hand in hand. You cannot
have one without the other. Repentance is essential.

Witness by example. “Ye shall be my witnesses” . The question the church needs to

engage with is are we the kind of witnesses is Jesus calling us to be?
What kind of mark do our lives make on the community around us. Are we truly
approachable? Do we have time for people? Jesus gave his life unconditionally, Are we
prepared to give in the same way? Eg Mother Teresa, Hilda of Whitby, Francis of Assissi

Leader Identification, Support and Recognition is key. Looking at the differing roles,

Apostle, Prophet, Pastoral care Healing Evangelists and teachers those with the gift of
miracles, gift of tongues, those who help or give guidance

Leadership support is essential. The main things we need to concentrate on are

Openness, Honesty Transparency and Integrity. Without these no body can function
Pastoral Over-site is essential, but it is a rare gift. Many farmers have it as second nature.
The ability to see the unseen, To see what has or has not been happening. It should not
be confused with Management.

I refer to Archbishop Donald Coggan

How can we test whether in fact we are in any real and living sense disciples of Jesus?
1.

The test of Love. It should be in any given area to detect the Christian community by the
sheer quality, depth, and warmth of love which members of the Christian Church have
towards each other. Suspicion and Ignorance have to go and be replaced by Loving
understanding and Care.
1.

The fruit-bearing The growing of Christian character into a personality like that of Jesus.
Attending to him for the purpose of learning from him.