Rogation Sunday
Rogation Sunday (25th May 2025) is the fifth Sunday after Easter in the Church of England calendar. It takes place in the spring, during the planting season.
Rogation comes from the Latin verb rogare – to ask. Rogationtide is a time of asking, asking God’s blessings on emerging crops. A time when churches pray for life and growth during the growing season.
In times gone by when everything depended on the local harvest, this was vital. A failed local harvest meant starvation, so asking God’s Blessing at various points was seen as important.
Rogation Sunday and the three following Rogation Days commemorate Jesus' final days on earth before his Ascension. They focus on the earth, agriculture, and human dependence on God.
Services often include a prayer walk and blessing of the earth. The tradition of "beating the bounds" involves the incumbent walking the boundaries of the parish, praying psalms, and asking for God's blessing and connects the new life, renewal, and resurrection in nature with the Christian Church. Rogationtide also leads to the tradition of seeking reconciliation in personal relationships.
Resources for Rogation Sunday can be found on the Arthur Rank Website here