On Sunday 6th October at 5:00pm St Mary’s Sticklepath is holding a special service for those who want to commemorate much loved pets who have died.
A short service will be followed by an opportunity to paint a stone, under the guidance of two local artists, which will become part of a memorial in the church garden. The vicar, the Rev’d Stephen Cook, said “We lost our much loved dog Smudge just over a year ago and we are still missing him. Companion animals give so much to our lives and when they pass they leave a big hole which is often not properly acknowledged. This will be a chance to celebrate them and for some it may be an opportunity to come to terms with their passing. This will certainly be a first for Sticklepath and I don’t know of a church anywhere that does this. We’ve chosen this date because it is very close to St Francis Day, and Francis was renowned for his love of animals.”
St Mary’s was faced with the prospect of closure some years ago and the local community rallied round not only to find the funds to keep it open as a church but also to reorder it as a place to celebrate the history and heritage of the local area. There is an interactive display and the garden has become a community project. The garden contains a reflective labyrinth and the stones painted on the 6th will become part of that.
The service is free and open to all. It is not a “pet service”, but well behaved animals will be welcome. Those who come are invited to bring a picture of the animal they want to remember.
