Waiting for dog: Cathedral's welcome to canines

A Scottish terrier playing an organ and a cocker spaniel using a kneeler are among 12 dogs featured in a cathedral's calendar.

St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, came up with the concept to show how warmly it welcomes our furry friends.

Marketing manager Catherine Rayson said: "We've always been dog-friendly but perhaps haven't pushed it as much, so this year it was very much an excuse to promote that fact."

The 2025 calendar has been released a few weeks before Bury St Edmunds competes to be crowned England's most dog-friendly town once more, external in the National Dog Friendly Awards.

A different breed was chosen to represent each month of the year, with models supplied by those from the cathedral community.

Adam Musgrove's boxer/staffie cross was among the hounds who took part in the photoshoot.

"It was an opportunity I couldn't resist... this little photogenic face of hers needed to be on a calendar and preferably one with a month with 31 days," said the 39-year-old from Bury St Edmunds.

Mikey was another one of the featured canines and was already "very at home in the cathedral", according to his owner.

Dee-dee Dobell, 82 and also from Bury St Edmunds, said: "He regularly comes to the morning service most mornings and he comes to the 08:00 communion on Sundays - and when I'm sidesman, he collects the offertory with me and comes up to the altar."

The animals were photographed across two mornings and were "very well behaved", according to Ms Rayner.

"It was relatively straight forward and we didn't have any divas," she said.

Visitors have been asked to keep their furry companions on a lead.

They can enjoy a water bowl outside the cathedral and dog treats from the welcome desk.

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