For All Creatures Great and Small … Pets. We give thanks!

Worcester, Salisbury, Ely, Portsmouth and St Albans Cathedrals are getting ready to host annual pet services, offering blessings for pets, working and assistance animals, and acknowledging their role in our lives.

These short fun services often include readings, prayers, and music, with a focus on creation and animal welfare.

For All Creatures Great and Small … Services for Pets

Worcester Cathedral is holding its pet blessing service this Saturday in recognition and celebration of all animals.

It will be the first pet service since 2023 and the short service will start at 11am and last around 30 minutes.

Worcester Cathedral’s pet service became a viral sensation in 2022 when Pablo the Goat stole the show by “singing” along to the organ music during the service.

The video of two year old Pablo and his alpaca friends Minstrel and Barnaby from Attwell Farm Park was shared by the cathedral on TikTok and has since had 1.6m views and 240,000 likes.

This Saturday the cathedral will once more welcome all creatures, great and small (with well-behaved owners) and those who wish to attend without a pet too.

There will be additional seating as well as an area for smaller pets.

Pet Blessing service Worcester Cathedral– 11am Saturday 23 August. For more information click here.

Next month it is the turn of Salisbury Cathedral to celebrate the joy and companionship that pets bring to our daily lives.

People are invited to bring their pets or pet photographs to bless and give thanks for all God’s creatures.

The service on Saturday 13 September will take place at the west end of the Cathedral, with the great west doors open so people and their pets can join in from inside or out on the lawn.

There will be readings, hymns, and beautiful creation-themed music sung by the Cathedral choir, including anthems by John Rutter and Andrew Carter, and an excerpt from Joseph Horovitz’s Captain Noah and his Floating Zoo.

All Creatures Great and Small – Salisbury Cathedral –Saturday 13 September 2-3pm. For more information click here.

Watch a short film made by Discover Animals from Salisbury’s first pet service held last year.

Ely Cathedral is holding its annual fun animal service for pets or working animals on Sunday 28 September at 2pm

All creatures, great and small, furry, feathered, scaly or smooth, are welcome. People are invited to bring a photograph if you can’t bring your pet (or if your beloved animal friend is no longer with you).

There will be a blessing for the animals and a reflection on how we can best be stewards of the Earth and all who live here with us.

The service will be led by Canon James Reveley and the Cathedral’s children’s choir, The Imps, will sing and all proceeds from this service will go to local animal charities.

Ely Cathedral Pet Service, Sunday 28 September, 2pm. For more information click here.

Portsmouth Cathedral will hold a service of blessing for pets and their people on Sunday 13 October 3-3.50pm

Bring your pet, or a picture of your pet, for a short service of blessing followed by refreshments and goodie bags to take away! Find out more here.

And St Albans Cathedral will host its pet service on Sunday 5 October at 2pm.

Photo Credit : Toby Shepheard