The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev John Pritchard, has promised the support of the church to the farming community caught up in the latest outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

Foot and mouth disease was discovered at a farm in Surrey last week, sparking fears among Britain's farming community of another crisis similar to that of 2001 when more than six million animals were slaughtered.

"Clearly the situation is evolving day by day but this is an alarming time for everyone who works the land on our behalf and I want to pledge the support, concern and prayers of the Church for everyone involved," said Bishop Pritchard.

2007 has proved to be a difficult year for Britain's farming community, parts of which are still recovering from severe flooding in June and July, while outbreaks of TB and bird flu also remain serious concerns.

"'How much more?' they must think. Much of our rural economy is quite fragile and the country cannot afford (in any sense) to see another tragedy unfold like last time. Lessons have been learned from the last foot and mouth epidemic, but that doesn't remove the fear," he said.

Bishop Pritchard assured the farming community of the church's continuing support.
"Our churches belong to the fabric of the countryside just like the farms. Those churches and their communities of Christians will be agents of God's loving concern, whatever the outcome of this current alarm," he affirmed.

"I know they will be ready to offer practical and spiritual help without hesitation or condition. May God bless our countryside, and keep it fruitful and hopeful."

The Government has eased restrictions on animal movements put into place after the latest outbreak, although the European Union has moved to extend its ban on British meat and livestock exports.

Some 200 cows have been slaughtered since the highly contagious virus was confirmed on two farms last Friday.

Local clergy and rural chaplains are already working in partnership with the Farm Crisis Network to provide pastoral care and support to farmers directly affected by the protection zone around the Surrey farm and research laboratories being investigated as possible sources of the outbreak.

Farmers are also receiving support, including financial assistance, from the Arthur Rank Centre (ARC), a partnership between the Royal Agricultural Society of England, the national churches and the Rank Foundation, the churches rural resources unit.

"Financial hardship is a real concern, particularly among farmers who were expecting to sell stock about this time and in such a difficult year following the recent severe weather," said Dr Jill Hopkinson, the Church of England's National Rural Officer.

The ARC-Addington Fund is prioritising financial support for farmers affected by the floods but has promised to monitor the situation with concern, before taking a final decision on Monday 13 August on the availability of hardship grants relating directly to foot and mouth.

The Rt Rev Christopher Hill, Bishop of Guildford, in whose diocese the outbreak was reported, said, "My thoughts and prayers are with the farmers, the people at Wanborough, Wyke, Elstead and Wood Street and all involved in investigating and containing this outbreak both locally and at a wider level.

"Having seen the impact of foot and mouth at close hand in Staffordshire in 2001, I am aware of its enormous emotional and practical costs and the terrible isolation of those in the communities affected."

The Church of England has issued prayers for the farming community which can be accessed on the Church of England website at www.cofe.anglican.org/prayers/.