The righteous care for the needs of their animals. (Proverbs 2.10)
ONE of the joys of moving to a new parish is discovering how church services are conducted: what is “normal” for one village might be viewed as incredibly peculiar for another. Added to this is the belief of every church community that their way of conducting a service is the correct (and possibly the only) one. The newly arrived vicar must tread carefully through the minefield of established customs and traditions, bringing an open mind to the annual round of services and events — an attitude that can be incredibly rewarding.
Although a veteran of rural ministry, I was surprised and delighted by the “End of Lambing Service” at Old Radnor, which takes place every May, and is filled with hymns and readings about shepherding. Pride of place this year went to Sophia the lamb, who remained awesomely silent, provided she could see her owner, bleating pathetically every time he moved out of sight. At the end of the service, I duly blessed Sophia, who representing the entire ovine population for us, but I refrained from using a rosemary aspergillum on the grounds of sensitivity and good taste.
Members of the congregation were given beautifully knitted lambs, crafted by a generous team from another village, as a reminder of Jesus the Good Shepherd; and an excellent tea wrapped up the event. I breathed a hearty sigh of relief, as the presence of animals in church buildings can be problematic, and such events don’t always end smoothly.
THE pet service in particular, although undoubtedly an outstanding missionary event, can bring some significant challenges. The minister generously opens the doors of the church building wide to accept all kinds of creatures: I have myself helped to reverse a pony down a narrow aisle into the west-end vestry until only his head poked out, so that that there could be room for everyone else.
Snakes and Komodo dragons arrive, alongside dogs, cats, guinea-pigs, and even, memorably, a dead mole carefully placed in a small shoebox. (My husband counts that as one of my ministry failures, since I was unable to fulfil expectations and bring it back to life.) Dog fights, escaped rabbits, and disastrously leaking bags of fish — none of these have dimmed my enjoyment of the wonderful chaos of people giving thanks for the creatures that bring them comfort and happiness, and for whom they care with great devotion.
HARVEST FESTIVALS, the feast of St Francis of Assisi, and Animal Welfare Sunday, as well as the Season of Creation — many occasions in the church year offer opportunities for people to worship alongside the animals that share their daily lives, and both the Church of England and Methodist websites (among many others) offer full liturgies for such events.
One Oxfordshire village welcomed baby goats each Christmas time, whose high-pitched bleating accompanied the traditional carols and readings. Indeed, live props provide great entertainment and mind-stretching adaptations of the Christmas story, delivered to a congregation often unused to a church setting.
I have told the story of the Christmas Giant Snail, the Christmas Rabbit, and even the Christmas Chicken; I have seen press releases of people riding camels to advertise Epiphany; and there is, of course, the well-known donkey opportunity on Palm Sunday, with much entertainment to be had as a finite number of donkeys are fiercely competed for by a larger number of churches.
Nor does the presence of animals in church have to be limited to specific occasions: dogs, in particular, have become a familiar sight at many services. “Dog-friendly” churches advertise their welcome with notices offering dog bowls, biscuits, and general animal-friendly hospitality. This, in turn, can make for a more relaxed event, not only for the pets’ owners, but also for others who see a welcome extended beyond the usual boundaries.
There are health and safety issues, of course: no one wants to be frightened by an undisciplined animal, and those who dislike dogs should be made to feel safe so that they, too, can worship in the way that suits them best. Dog-friendly “zones” are one answer, as well as polite insistence on leads at all times.
I AM aware that I have not touched on those creatures who arrive unaccompanied, or without invitation. These include bats, squirrels, wasps, bees, mice, moths, birds, butterflies, ants, and others too numerous to mention. These visitors fall into a category all of their own.
Yet, throughout the Bible, we are reminded of God’s generosity in his creation, and of the wonderful abundance and variety of life on this planet. We learn lessons from the natural world on inhabiting the moment, cultivating a mindset of gratitude for the variety of the living world, and spending time in the presence of creation.
We are exhorted to take seriously our responsibilities for the care and stewardship of this planet, and to be sensitive about our interactions with its wildlife, aware of our co-dependence on animals for our survival. It is surely a good and wonderful thing to celebrate the presence of all kinds of animals in our lives, and to give thanks for the service, companionship, and support they bring to so many of us — even if we do end up scraping horse poo off the vestry carpet.
The Revd Dr Sally Welch is Vicar of the Kington Group of parishes in the diocese of Hereford.
