Local RSPCA & St Mark’s Church Invite two legged and four legged supporters to their Animal Blessing Service.

THE RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield & Bradford Branch alongside St Marks Church, Longwood are delighted to be holding their third Animal Blessing Service at 3.00pm on Sunday 20th March at St Marks Church, St Marks Road, Longwood, Huddersfield, HD3 4SZ.

(Photo taken at the annual Animal Blessing Service held in 2021)

Vicar Simon Crook will be holding the service which will feature a quirky animal quiz, hymns and animal-themed readings. All to celebrate the happiness and joy our animal friends bring us.

A full church enjoys the 2021 service

Fay Gibbons, Community Fundraiser at the local RSPCA branch said “Our Huddersfield Animal Blessing Service with St Marks is very special to us, it’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our pets and animal companions by bringing them along to the church to enjoy the service with us! If your pet has passed away or may find it too difficult to physically attend, then Vicar Simon is happy to bless a photo too. We can’t wait to meet new and familiar faces of people and their pets this year!”

(Vicar Simon shakes paws with Bentley the Border Collie at the 2021 service (left( & a chicken is blessed at the 2021 service (right)

All types of animals are welcomed, but the Church asks that dogs are kept on leads and small animals (such as cats, rabbits, and other small furries/reptiles/birds) are kept safe by remaining in pet carriers.

The local RSPCA animal centre is entirely self-funded and hopes to raise awareness of the animal welfare work it does within the Halifax, Huddersfield and Bradford areas – all proceeds raised on the day will be split between the branch and the church.

To find out more about the Animal Blessing Service, visit www.rspcahalifaxaxhuddersfieldbradford.org.uk or  https://www.facebook.com/events/642628813728115.

The RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield, Bradford and District Branch are a self-funded, local charity and part of a network of RSPCA branches. We are responsible for raising money locally to support our animal welfare work. In the last 12 months, the branch has successfully rehomed over 400 animals. Our main aim is to rehabilitate unwanted, abandoned, and abused animals and find them loving, permanent homes. We rely on public donations and the generosity of our local community to keep the doors of our animal centre open.

St Marks is a small church with a big heart, priding themselves on their warm welcome and love of music in worship. The church provides traditional services as well as less formal family services, including seasonal services and a wide range of social and fundraising events, involving the local community. Children are welcome to all services and can make use of a children’s corner in the church with books and toys. St Marks is a congregation seeking to grow, everyone is welcome wherever you may be on your spiritual journey.