Salisbury Cathedral to welcome pets for popular annual blessing service

Salisbury Cathedral’s popular Service for the Blessing of Pets will return on Saturday 19 September, welcoming families from Salisbury and across Wiltshire to celebrate the special relationship between people and their animal companions.

The informal afternoon service, themed around “All Creatures Great and Small”, will give thanks for all God’s creatures and the joy, companionship and comfort they bring to people’s everyday lives.

The event is particularly aimed at children and families, with everyone welcome to attend. Visitors can bring their pets along to receive a blessing, or bring a photograph of an animal that may not be able to attend in person.

The service will take place at the west end of Salisbury Cathedral, with the large doors opening onto the Cathedral lawn. This will allow larger animals and pets who are unable to enter the building to take part from outside.

Visitors will be able to sit inside the Cathedral for the service or gather outside with their animals. The homily will be given by the Revd Sophie Ferguson, Assistant Curate, while the Revd Ross Meikle, Missioner for Young People, will lead the service.

The annual event has already proved popular with local families. More than 250 people attended last year, bringing around 60 animals with them. The unusual collection of visitors included dogs, guinea pigs, mice, cats, gerbils and even a tortoise.

The Revd Ross Meikle said pets can teach people important lessons about caring, joy, love and loss.

“The pets and animals in our lives teach us so much about how to live well,” he said.

He added that caring for animals can help people understand their responsibility towards creation, while pets can also combat loneliness and bring happiness into people's lives.

The service also provides an opportunity to remember animals that have died and to reflect on the important place pets can have within families.

The Revd Ross Meikle said the service is an opportunity to “remember, celebrate, and give thanks” for pets and to recognise the ways in which animals enrich people's lives.

With the Cathedral opening its doors to a wide range of animal companions, the September service is expected to once again bring together families, pet owners and animal lovers from Salisbury and the surrounding area.

For information about bringing larger or outdoor animals to the event, visitors can contact Salisbury Cathedral by emailing marketing@salcath.co.uk.