Pets to be blessed at special cathedral service

A cathedral is once again inviting people to come and have their pets blessed during a special service.

Salisbury Cathedral first held the All Creatures Great and Small celebration in 2024 to give thanks to animals and the companionship they bring.

Since then, staff said the annual event had been a great success with more than 250 people attending last year, along with 60 dogs, guinea pigs, mice, cats, gerbils and a tortoise.

This year's service will take place on Saturday at 14:00 BST in the west end of the cathedral, with the large doors opening onto the lawn for larger animals who are unable to enter.

The Reverend Ross Meikle, missioner for young people, said: "The pets and animals in our lives teach us so much about how to live well.

"When we care for them, we become servants of God's creation. When we play with them, we know joy."

Meikle said the service was an opportunity for people to remember, celebrate and give thanks to their pets, "blessing them as they in turn bless us".

"At the end of their life, we learn about death, grief, and the hope of reunion in the world to come.

"They enrich our lives, combat loneliness and teach us how to love."

Steve Abbott, a former lay vicar at the cathedral, said: "We took Buster and Munch along [to a previous service] and it was comforting to witness them, along with a myriad of other creatures, being blessed by the clergy, and accepted into the kingdom of all living things."

The service is aimed at children and families but everyone is welcome to join, either inside the cathedral or to gather with larger animals outside.

The homily will be given by the Reverend Sophie Ferguson, assistant curate, with Meikle, leading the service.

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