All creatures great and small will gather together – virtually – tomorrow, as churches in the Boroughbridge area unite for a pet service.

Rev Karen Gardiner, vicar of the united parishes of Aldborough, Boroughbridge, Dunsforth, Minskip and Roecliffe, is preparing to bring families and their four-legged friends together despite the lockdown.

Animals will receive a blessing in the 4pm online service, which is open to anyone who wants to participate, including those without pets.

Rev Gardiner said: “We’re looking forward to it very much. We’ve actually got the Bishop of Ripon joining us and giving the final blessing, so that’s going to be really nice.

“It should be a fun-packed service. We know we’ve got horses, dogs and cats so far, and we’re hoping for more.”

The united churches in the Boroughbridge area have been offering online services since lockdown began

With three cats in her family home, Rev Gardiner said animals have become particularly important to people during lockdown and she hopes tomorrow’s service will attract people who do not usually go to church. She added:

“Something like a pet service is one of those things that people relate to. At the moment, people’s pets have come to mean such a lot to them, especially if you’re on your own – but even in a family, our cats have been a tremendous emotional support. It feels right to have a chance to say thank you to them.”

Rev Gardiner’s cats will be joining the pet service too

Last year, a pet service at Dunsforth proved very popular among locals and it was scheduled to take place again this year. When lockdown began, rather than cancel, Rev Gardiner decided to move the event online.

This Sunday’s pet service will be conducted via Zoom, but anyone without the technology who wants to join in can send a photo of their pet in advance for inclusion in the service. A written transcript will also be available.

More information about how to join the service can be found on the churches’ Facebook page.

Streets across the borough have turned red, white and blue today, as people celebrate VE day.

The Stray Ferret has been speaking to residents across the district about what VE day means for them and their families.

As lockdown continues many people have spent time turning their gardens into a colourful tribute to war veterans who liberated Europe from Nazism 75 years ago today.

A vicar from Boroughbridge told the Stray Ferret that the number of people who tuned into the online Easter Sunday service exceeded the amount that would usually gather at the church congregation.

Reverend Karen Gardiner, vicar for the Boroughbridge Parish of Churches,  held an Easter Sunday service from her back garden with her family. She said:

” It really shows that you can do church anywhere. We will definitely continue to do more of these, it’s a way of creating togetherness through faith whilst people are unable to meet up.”

This innovative method of worship came about due to the temporary closure of churches, in an effort to slow the spread of COVID19.

Yesterday, many Churches across the borough held creative online services, so people were still able to celebrate a key day in the Christian calendar from their own homes.

Revd Karen Gardiner said that as well as providing a service for regular members to connect, it was an opportunity to reach out to a wider audience:

“It’s amazing, we have been getting emails from our church members saying that the online services are enabling their elderly family members, who can no longer attend church, to re-engage with their faith.”

It seems while congregations are being kept apart, the spirit of giving has not gone away.

Revd Karen Gardiner conducting an Easter Service from her garden with her family.