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Taking place on World Food Day (16th October) the service, which closed British Food Fortnight, was both a thanksgiving for farmers and a reminder of those challenged by hunger. Schoolchildren and well-known personalities such as Rick Stein and Henry Dimbleby also attended the event.

A Harvest Torch travelled the country over recent months, spreading the message of celebrating the harvest, and was carried into Westminster Abbey by NFU President Tom Bradshaw. At the head of the offertory procession was harvest boxes designed by children from the John Perryn primary school in Ealing and filled with produce from City Harvest.

Founder of Love British Food Alexia Robinson said: “From our cattle and sheep breeds – which are the envy of the world – to our wonderful dairy farmers, to the abundance and rich variety of fruit and vegetables, to nature’s harvest, we are indeed truly blessed.

“Today’s service gives thanks to our farmers for the food they produce, whilst also acknowledging that many people do not have enough to eat.”

As the lead organisation of the service, Love British Food has forged partnerships with food redistribution and food bank charities – Trussell, The Felix Project, the Coronation Food Project, and City Harvest – with volunteers joining in prayers for the relief of hunger and suffering.

Approaching its 25th year, Love British Food unites people across the UK to celebrate homegrown food, from British Food Fortnight, the country’s biggest annual food celebration, to work in schools, hospitals, and care homes. The National Harvest Service reinforced Love British Food’s mission to champion British food from field to fork.