The Christian owners of a popular Fife farm shop and restaurant have sacrificed a day of trade in accordance with the teachings of the Bible.
In a hark back to tradition, the owners of Blacketyside Farm, Eleanor Todd and husband Robert, agreed that Sunday should be treated as a day of rest.
Despite the Leven business attracting visitors from far and wide, the Todds believe that the Sabbath is a sacred day for worship not for work behind the tills.
“As of January 9, we stopped opening on a Sunday,” said Mrs Todd. “We have always been believers but became Christians last year and decided to follow the Bible’s teachings.
“In Exodus, the second book of the Bible, it says that for six days you work, the seventh day you rest. It is important to us that the Bible’s teachings are followed.”
Mrs Todd said that customers had been very supportive of their bold move and that the closure reminded them of how Britain used to be in their childhood. However, she added it was too soon to measure the consequences of losing a full day of custom.
“We have had a very positive response from folk. Some people who used to come on a Sunday now visit us another day.Protect”It is far too early to gauge how it’s impacted on the business, though. We are on the main coastal road between St Andrews and Edinburgh so we get a lot of tourists and we are usually busier in the summer.
“The winter isn’t as busy, so we need to look at the whole year before we make an assessment. We have to have faith in our beliefs and have faith that God will protect the business.”
Mrs Todd said she was now enjoying a whole free day to spend with her family after attending church.
“It’s very important to have relaxation time,” she said. “If we don’t make time for each other then people suffer.
“At present, every day is the same when Sunday should be a day to recharge the batteries. People have to make their own decision.
“We made ours because of our commitment to God.”
Photo by Flickr user jmwk.