Covent Garden London
The heart of London's West End
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Church service blesses animals
St Paul's church in Covent Garden saw one of the first-ever blessings of animals earlier this month as dogs of all shapes and sizes, from long-haired spaniels to Scottish terriers, and a solitary hamster gathered with their owners at the church to praise and give thanks for their four-legged friends.
Jason Colbert, 13, from Charing Cross, is a member of the church and brought his hamster, Dusty, in for a blessing. "I haven't got a brother and I love playing with Dusty. I would be lost without him," he said.
Sharon Gaff, a credit consultant from Ladywell, south east London, brought her two-year-old Scottish Terrier Hannah to the service "because she's so important". The Anglican service was held on 7 October because it is the Sunday closest to the feast of St Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, which falls on October 4.
Contacts:
Blue Cross Animal Welfare Charity: http://www.thebluecross.org.uk
St Paul's Church: http://www.spcg.org/
(article by Keren Eales)
© Covent Garden Community Association, October 2001
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