Blessing The Beasts: How Animals Are Finding Their Place In Church
LONDON — How do you bless a tortoise that resolutely refuses to emerge from the deepest recesses of a church pew?
It is perhaps the unpredictability of animal blessing services that makes these the most challenging (and often entertaining) of all services held within churches.
It was St. Francis, patron saint of animals, who first introduced the idea of preaching and blessing animals in the early 13th century. He stressed the fact that God loved all creatures, and that nature was important.
READ: Keep An Eye Out For London’s ‘Church Watchers’
Not surprisingly, many animal blessing services are held during October around the time of the Feast of St Francis, a popular saint within Christian traditions. Observed on Oct. 3, his feast day coincides with World Animal Day, an international day of action for animal rights and welfare.
It also links with the increasingly popular Feast of Creation, an ecumenical season of prayer and action for the environment starting in September and running through to October, which is becoming a worldwide movement linking many denominations.
Blessing animals does go back even further than the time of St. Francis, as Stephanie MacGillivray of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England & Wales pointed out.
“The Catholic tradition is really centered around St Anthony’s feast day, and it was a common fixture of life to simply ask for God’s blessing on the livestock, especially for farming communities,” she said. “Over time, it has developed to domestic pets as well.”
St. Francis isn’t the only figure associated with animals. A fourth-century desert hermit regarded as one of the founders of Christian monasticism, St. Anthony the Abbot is the patron saint of livestock and animals. After blessing a sick piglet, the animal became St Anthony’s constant companion.
Over the past decades, the number of animal blessing services has become increasingly prominent, with all types of Christian churches involved. Over 30 ago, Ely Cathedral became one of the Anglican cathedrals to hold a dedicated animal blessing service.
Whatever church denomination is involved, services tend to follow a similar pattern. Liturgies focus on creation, animals, and mutual interdependence. Generally lasting about half an hour, people bring along their beloved pets.
During the service, the priest in charge meets every animal, gives a blessing and sprinkles the pet with holy water.
No one ever knows quite what to expect before the service actually takes place. Cats, dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs are the most common participants, but people have brought along unusual pets such as bearded dragons, stick insects, tarantulas, birds and fish as well as llamas, sheep and horses.
Some people bring along photographs — especially of beloved pets who have passed on. Worcester Cathedral officials said people often bring aging animals because they are worried about them.
Increasingly, cathedrals in the U.K. also invite local animal charities, such as those focusing on rescue and rehoming, and other animal-related organizations to become involved. It helps raise awareness of their work and the animals in their care.
A recent trend has been to highlight specific groups of animals such as working animals and service animals alongside pets.
Canon Kimberley Bohan, responsible for Worcester Cathedral’s Animal Blessing service in 2026, said, “It is an opportunity to recognize that animals are not just our domestic companions but are a crucial part of our public services. Police dogs are so important. Dogs who search for someone up a mountain or when someone with dementia wanders off and is being looked for, service animals have always been a part of our life.”
Such services have become extremely popular. As many participants as possible are accommodated within the church building, but sometimes larger animals are kept in a group outside.
At Salisbury Cathedral, the service typically takes place at the west end of the building, enabling the large entrance doors to be left open for larger animals and their owners to gather on the lawn. The cathedral reported that over 250 people took part in the service in 2025, along with 60 dogs, guinea pigs, mice, cats, gerbils and a tortoise.
So popular is the concept that, in Holland Park, in West London, one church has even begun adding a Christmas Carol service for pets. Over 400 people and animals took part. According to the organizers, people traveled long distances to take part so as to share festive blessings with their pets.
Whatever the location or animal involved, the message is always the same. The Rev. Ross Meikle, Missioner for Young People at Salisbury Cathedral, 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.”
He added: “When we play with them, we know joy. At the end of their life, we learn about death, grief, and the hope of a reunion in the world to come. They enrich our lives, combat loneliness and teach us how to love. This service is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and give thanks for the pets in our lives, blessing them as they in turn bless us.”
The most famous animal blessing service perhaps occurred in 2022, when Pablo the Goat’s loud bleating throughout the musical numbers threw the whole choir and crowd into a fit of giggles — a TikTok video of Pablo and his alpaca friends at the cathedral quickly went viral at the time.
Commenting on his antics, Vice-Dean Canon Stephen Edwards said Pablo’s “antics have amused so many people worldwide, and we’re really pleased to be able to share the joy that our annual service brings to so many people. Animals are such an important part of our lives and bring so much joy to so many. Pablo is definitely the ultimate drama goat.”
Angela Youngman is a freelance journalist who has written for a wide range of British and international publications.