AS we move into October, I'm reminded of Keats's poem “To Autumn”, which begins with “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”.

Perhaps, like me, you had to study the poem for O-level or GCSE English Literature, and isn’t it strange how certain lines and phrases stick with you?

As I walk the dog along the footpaths around Crediton with the hint of autumn in the atmosphere and the colours of the trees beginning to turn, those words come to mind.

Mellow fruitfulness, slow ripening. In many ways that phrase could be used to describe the journey of faith.

For some people faith is something that develops slowly and perhaps unrecognised, until we somehow notice that something has happened, whilst the rhythm of life goes on.

The rhythm of life goes on and at the beginning of October we especially cultivate the virtue of thanksgiving as we give thanks to God for the Harvest.

Harvest Festival gives us an opportunity to celebrate all that God provides for us.The cycle of life in the natural world is one of nature’s miracles.

We so easily take it for granted until floods or drought threaten our supplies; then we’re reminded that food supplies are often uncertain for many people across the world.

If I were to ask the question: “On which building in the City of London will you find the following words from Psalm 24: ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof’, some of you may well have said, St Paul’s Cathedral and, indeed, that would have been a good (and perhaps logical) answer?

It is in fact on the Royal Exchange building. On the building, which symbolises the creation of material wealth in the developed world, we have a reminder that material possessions don’t actually belong to us.

We hold them in trust from the one to whom everything in heaven and earth belongs.

Harvest is a time to celebrate our links to the earth and the bounty which it provides.

We have received much from God in trust. And now we have an opportunity to reflect, to give thanks and to be wise stewards of all that we have been given.

We live in an area in which agriculture plays a significant role.

There will be many in our local area who are farmers or who work in allied industries.

We are therefore in a privileged position to make the connection between our food and its producers.

And it is especially important for us, who are able to make that connection, to support our local farmers wherever possible.

One of the great joys of living in this part of the world is being able to shop locally, with a range of food retailers including butchers, greengrocers and farm shops on our doorstep.

By buying locally produced food, we know that we are not only buying fresh and traceable produce, but also playing an active part in supporting local farmers and sustaining the economic viability of the rural community.

The Rev Preb Matthew Tregenza

Rector of Holy Cross, Crediton