CHESTER — The skies were a bit bleak, but eyes were bright and tails were wagging at the 13th annual Blessing of the Pets ceremony held Sunday at the Chester Congregational Baptist Church.
Three local pups showed up at the church to be blessed by Rev. Beverly Lindsey — Maggie, Oreo, and Bluesy — all waiting patiently in the moist, morning grass and seeking a prayer or two to help them on their way.
After hosting the pet blessing ceremony so many years, Lindsey said she wasn't too concerned about the ever-increasing cloudiness.
"After 13 years, we've never had a rain delay," she said.
With only an occasional bark or sniff to check out each other, the three dogs were ready to listen to prayers, Scripture readings, and special music to mark their day.
Lindsey told the crowd that pet blessing ceremonies were an ancient tradition in many churches and a way to honor the animals of the earth.
"It's a special time to ask for God's blessing for the creatures we love," she said.
Many in attendance remembered how much former resident Col. Richardson Benton loved the Blessing of the Pets event in Chester. Col. Benton passed away last month and the town will honor his memory and celebrate his life on July 4 at the church.
Lindsey recalled how Col. Benton would secure the grassy area near the church where the blessing would be held and would mark off special pet areas with bright, yellow tape — an area for dogs, cats, horses, and the smaller pets like birds or hamsters. And in case a horse appeared at the ceremony, Benton always had a carrot in his pocket.
As the ceremony began, Bluesy, a 4-year-old Maltese, waited patiently for Lindsey to offer prayers just for him. His owner, Esther Connelly, of Derry, said the little white dog was ready for his prayer and was behaving nicely.
"This is his second year here," Connelly said.
Oreo, 8, was also a regular and owned by Rev. Lindsey and her husband, Charles. The black and white cocker spaniel once belonged to Miss Muriel Church and hadn't missed an event.
And Maggie, a cocker spaniel, took her place among her friends and was also a regular face in the pet blessing crowd. She is owned by Lynn Rockwell and family, who said the little dog had been attending the ceremony every year.
"She's been to every Blessing of the Pets," Rockwell said.
