an old souvenir from Canterbury Cathedral
A lady from my church was visiting Canterbury Cathedral back in 1978, and a man handed her this. When she found out I was interested in this, she gave me a copy a couple of months ago....
THE ANGLICAN SOCIETY FOR THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS
By the Rev. Andrew Gibbon
The Society has come into existence in response to a two-fold concern. First there is the concern of many Anglicans (and other Christians) to find specific expression of their love for animals in their faith and worship. All love is of God and must find its fulfilment in service and devotion to Him.
Secondly there is the concern that the conscience of our fellow Christians should be enlightened and aroused in respect of the many evils which are continually and increasingly practised, ignorantly, callously, and selfishly – against God’s creatures and our fellow creatures, the animals.
Anglicans, and indeed all Christians, have always found a place in their worship for commending to the love and compassion of God such of their brothers and sisters who may be in need. We believe that it is high time that provision should be made in the worship of our Church for the needs of our fellow creatures outside the human race to be presented in prayer to God.
It is a matter for debate whether the present age is more inclined to inhumanity and cruelty than those which have gone before. What is certain is that modern technology and skill in organisation have increased the possibility of systematising the practice of these evil qualities to a terrifying degree. We see this in the political sphere where oppressive regimes command resources – including the fiendish instrument of official torture - greater than ever before. In the same way, animals are delivered into our power and in practice are more exploited and ill-treated than ever they were in the past. Two examples of this may suffice.
In the sacred name of ‘research’ countless animal lives are sacrificed (often needlessly by any standard) and much suffering is inflicted. This applies equally to medical and commercial research, both activities being invariably concealed from the public.
Mechanisation and shortage of man-power have given rise to a sinister development in agriculture. In so-called ‘Factory Farming’ animals and poultry no longer enjoy the freedom and respect due to sentient creatures, but are enslaved and exploited in ruthless fashion as the raw material of commerce.
In the face of such massive and widespread evils we do not have to wring our hands in helpless dismay. As citizens we have access to both the media and to Parliament. As Christians we have access to God in prayer.
Prayer attributed to Albert Schweitzer
