Dingwall Mart meet-up hears of farmers' battle with 'serious levels of hopelessness and depression'

Church of Scotland ministers with a shared special interest in the country's farming community had a rare opportunity to meet up at Dingwall Mart's recent sale of store cattle.

The Kirk's national farming minister, Rev Chris Blackshaw, who is himself a farmer, came to the Highlands to meet Simon Jackson, a reader in the Church of Scotland and chaplain to Dingwall Mart.

Also in attendance were Kinlochbervie and Durness minister Rev Andrea Boyes, who is chaplain to Lairg Mart and raises sheep on her own croft, Rev Rory MacLeod, presbytery clerk for Clèir Eilean ì, the new unified presbytery for the Highlands and Islands, and local Dingwall minister Rev Bruce Dempsey of St Clements Parish Church.

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"Many farmers also suffer with difficult issues such as financial pressure, isolation, adverse weather conditions, loss of land, all combined with long working hours. All this contributes, in some cases, to serious levels of hopelessness and depression, some even thinking of self-harm or suicide."

- Simon Jackson

Simon showed Chris and the other visitors around and introduced them to people at the mart.

Already well known in the farming community as an agronomist, he explained why he had decided to take on the chaplaincy role.

"Many farmers also suffer with difficult issues such as financial pressure, isolation, adverse weather conditions, loss of land, all combined with long working hours," he said. "All this contributes, in some cases, to serious levels of hopelessness and depression, some even thinking of self-harm or suicide.

"It can make a huge difference to be able to talk to someone in confidence, who is outside the family and yet who understands the pressures of farming."

Andrea shares Simon's desire to serve the north farming community and, alongside her chaplaincy presence at Lairg Auction Mart, has begun A Crofters Kirk – a podcast that will go live soon to discuss crofting, farming, and faith.

“Farming and crofting is the heartbeat of feeding and sustaining communities, but how will Christians sustain and encourage farmers and crofters in the love of God?" she asked. "I think there is much that can be given and received in those simple conversations in the mart, farms forests or ports, no matter where we are or who we are."

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