Bishop seeks donations for farmers

The Bishop of Stepney meets farmer's leader Ben Gill

A prominent Anglican bishop has called on the public to donate tax benefits they will get from the recent Budget to farmers hit by the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Reverend John Sentamu, the Ugandan-born Bishop of Stepney in east London, said the crisis was one that united dwellers of the countryside and city in a common cause.

He told a service at St-Martin-in-the-Fields in London on Sunday that he was amazed by the generosity of the British public.

His call for public donations comes as up to half a million animals within a two-mile radius of infected farms are set to be culled - even if they display no symptoms of the disease.

Bishop Sentamu said: "Each of us should be an answer to the solution and stop blaming and criticising," he said.

Each of us should be an answer to the solution and stop blaming and criticising

Bishop of Stepney

"If we decided those of us who had wages to give to those working in the countryside because of this crisis we could end it.

"Perhaps the task force set up by the Government might tell me where I may send my little contribution. Each of us should be an answer to the solution and stop blaming and criticising."

Bishop Sentamu has first-hand knowledge of the foot-and-mouth disease as his father was forced to slaughter 2,000 cattle at his farm in Masaka, Uganda, following an outbreak.

"This was a devastating blow and he ended up handing over 1,000 acres of land to the church and becoming a teacher."

He added: "The culture where I come from knows the importance of rallying together.

Prayers offered up

"I have always been amazed by the generosity of the British public."

He urged worshippers to pray to God to "bring an end to this disease".

Among the congregation at Sunday's service was National Farmers' Union president Ben Gill, who took to the pulpit of St Martin-in-the-Fields to read a lesson from Genesis.