Rural Hope Day - Keynote Speaker Announced

The Revd Dr Mark Betson, who took up his post last month, is tasked with focussing and developing the Church’s support for the rural church and rural communities.

The former South East Regional Director for the Farming Community Network, who was heavily involved in bringing the countryside into schools and supporting students at land-based colleges, has worked with the South of England Agricultural Society. Revd Dr Benson has been described as bringing “great pastoral sensitivity, a deep understanding for the distinctiveness of rural ministry and a real love of rural life and culture.”

A former Vicar of a rural parish and Rural and Environment Officer for the Diocese of Chichester, Revd Dr Betson has said he is passionate about enabling rural churches and communities to thrive and encouraging support for families and young people to have a future in the countryside,“particularly through greater working together in their individual and diverse settings."

The Diocesan Rural Ministry and Mission Day, with its theme of ‘Strengthening Collaboration’, will take place on Saturday 14 September 2019, and will feature a panel of guest speakers followed by workshops on rural ministry and mission topics and taster sessions for the Rural Hope training courses THRIVE.

The day is open to up to three attendees (lay and ordained) from rural benefices.