Church welcomes all creatures great and small

IT was all barks and purrs on Sunday at the annual pets blessing service at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Challoch.

Retired Archdeacon of Sunderland and member of the church, the Rev Canon Stuart Bain, led the blessing of four dogs and a cat owned by members of the congregation during Sunday’s service.

All Saints’ Priest-in-Charge, the Rev Dawn Matthew said: “Animals and their relationship with people are a vitally important part of God’s creation. From teaching children and young people how to love and take care of them, to providing invaluable companionship and healing for adults, pets are some of God’s greatest gifts. They, like animals generally, are crucial to the ecology of our beautiful planet, and should never be taken for granted.

As such, it is fitting that the nearest Sunday to the Feast of the patron saint of animals, St Francis of Assisi, should be dedicated annually to giving thanks for animals, and asking the Good Lord to bless them as part of his creation.”