CHICHESTER CATHEDRAL is among the latest churches to back the growing pattern towards inviting dogs.
The Cathedral’s Interim Dean, Canon Simon Holland, said recently: “Dogs are such an important part of our daily lives, bringing so much love and joy to their families. We hope that by making the cathedral a dog-friendly space, our visitors will be able to make more meaningful memories with their canine companions.”
Chichester will be the 3rd cathedral to be dog-friendly, following the lead of Wells and Lincoln. Wells enables dogs to go to services, and, in 2015, won a silver award for the very best dog-friendly café. A map on the National Churches Trust website notes 2921 dogs-friendly websites.
Canterbury Cathedral is because of reveal its own policy in the next couple of days. This will resemble that of Chichester, where dogs are allowed the cathedral and its premises in between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and in between 12.30 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. on Sundays, on the condition that they stay on a lead, are well-behaved, and do not disrupt other visitors. Owners are anticipated to tidy up after their animals. In return, cathedral staff will put out treats and water stations throughout the premises.
A representative for Chichester Cathedral said: “Dogs and animals are a key part of life here in West Sussex, and we felt it was time for us to reflect that way of life, and the needs of the communities we serve. The number of people visiting with their canine companions has increased post-pandemic. We were turning people away from our doors, and that’s not the open and welcoming response we feel a church should have.
“We’re working with the British Pilgrimage Trust to create some new short self-guided walking routes into the city, for dogs and their owners to complete. We’re also working with partners to help highlight the other dog-friendly churches, businesses, and eateries so that visitors to our city can feel truly welcome.”
All cathedrals confess support dogs to their services. A Church House spokesperson said: “There is no church-wide guidance on dogs at services; things like that are handled at a local level.”
The Church Engagement Manager for the National Churches Trust, Sarah Crossland, said: “It is great that so many churches welcome pets. For parish churches in remote and rural areas, this makes churches more accessible places for dog-owners and dog-walkers to visit and explore.
“Making a church pet-friendly is a fantastic way to encourage even more people to explore and discover churches. It is a way of opening churches up to people while they’re out walking their dog, and also to those planning holidays in the UK with their pets.”
The Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals releases a list of animal-friendly churches on its website. Its secretary, the Revd Samantha Chandler, an NSM of Hartley Wintney, in Hampshire, said: “There are many churches who will allow dogs now, including two that I look after. I am doing a wedding in June where the dog is the ring bearer. I know that some people don’t like dogs, but a lot of people find it really relaxing.
“I have done a lot of animal blessing services and I have always found that animals behave very well. People come who would never set foot in a church; so, although some might think they are a bit silly, I think they are a good tool for making church more accessible.”
aswa.org.uk/our-work/animal-friendly
