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RSPCA Service Marks World Day for Animals

28th September 2007

The RSPCA has published a Service for Animal Welfare for use by clergy and congregations on World Day for Animals, also St Francis’ Day (4th October), and also Animal Welfare Sunday (Sunday 7th October). Originally written in 1975 by Professor Andrew Linzey, it is now in its 6th edition, and is used by scores of churches of all denominations throughout the United Kingdom, and increasingly by congregations in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. “The whole point of these services is to help Christians to celebrate God’s other creatures and provide a focal point for thinking about our moral responsibility towards them”, commented Professor Linzey. Copies of the service can be obtained by phoning the RSPCA’s enquiries department on 0300 1234 555 and the service itself can be viewed online here. The RSPCA has issued a press release about the service inviting Christians to remember the pioneering work of William Wilberforce who helped found the RSPCA in 1824. To view the press release press here. The prayers and readings in the service are taken from Professor Linzey’s book Animal Rites: Liturgies of Animal Care published by SCM Press in the UK and by The Pilgrim Press in the US. Animal Rites is the first collection of animal-friendly and animal inclusive liturgies ever published.