Have a go at our next caption competition (above). Send entries by email only to captioncompetition@churchtimes.co.uk by 9 a.m., Monday 3 November.
We invite readers’ ideas for photos: please provide a credit and confirm that those pictured are happy for the photo to be used.
Here is the winning entry for the previous competition:
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The Residentiary Canine was already wearing a purple stock, in the dogged hope of being appointed as the next Bishop of Barking (Chris Oxley)
A SELECTION of this week’s entries:
“No cats, just a catechism” (Chris Coupe); “We only come to this healing service because she can’t afford the vets’ bill” (Robin Eastoe); “The Church of England is going to the dogs” (Patrick Irwin); “I’m sorry, Tiddles. I know you’re keen, but I’m afraid you’re not eligible to join the PCC” (Richard Hough); “Fluffles was glad that the small creatures were still mentioned in the creation hymn” (Philip Lickley); “He was very excited when he heard that evensong that week was going to include Howells and Bach” (Tim Popple); “He always likes to join in, but his Bach is worse than his Lyte” (Julian Ashton); “The dog pretends not to hear yet another joke about Bach” (Michael Doe); “Apparently, to be a good chorister, all he needed was a Ruff” (Mary Hawkins); “Waiting for the Bishop to throw her crook” (John Appleby); “The choir’s new tenor is a bit of a bark, but great pitch” (Chloë Fraser); “Look! Is he wearing my dog collar?” (Jo Mash); “We need more than crumbs, you know” (Philip Goggin); “Those who have ears to hear, let them hear” (Barbara Huntley); “Don’t worry, Fido: the Archdeacon isn’t really a Rottweiler” (John Saxbee).
“If I stare hard enough, she might remember it’s time to stop for biscuits” (Valerie Budd); “‘Yeah,’ thought the dog,‘the preacher lost the rest of them at point five, but I’m all ears” (Martin Kettle); “Georgie was sure the Vicar said ‘Walkies with Jesus’” (Alistair Bolt); “ . . . and each year, on 11 October, the Church remembers St Ethelburga of Barking” (Chris Hammett); “The unheated church’s less regular members of the congregation would soon find out why its support dog wore a pullover on top of its fur coat” (Mervyn Cox); “Who said Anglicans can be too dogmatic?” (Ceri Lee); “At least Fido understood the doggerel” (Sue Chick); “Fido felt distinctly outnumbered at the annual ‘All creatures great and small’ service” (Michael Foster); “Did he say, ‘Never be hungry or thirsty?’. I’m in!” (Paulette Yallop).
“The Chair of DATCH was about to interrupt the service in protest that the Bishop of Barking had been overlooked for the Archbishopric” (Tim Naish); “Preach that sermon about the valley of dry bones. That’s my favourite” (Steve Davies); “Called or collared” (Robert Shooter); “At least I’m not dog tired, like these humans seem to be!” (Janet Stockton); “I said to take a pew, not take a pooch” (Rob Falconer); “Land me safe on Canine’s side’’ (Don Manley).
As ever, the winner receives a prize of Fairtrade chocolate, courtesy of Divine Chocolate.
