As her goldendoodle Tilly sat serenely at her feet, metres away from the tomb of St Cuthbert, the Rev Canon Charlie Allen joked that so far the dogs had been “better behaved than some humans”.
When Durham Cathedral first toyed with the idea of welcoming canine visitors, a handful of staff had expressed concern that the pets might befoul the sacred 12th century site.
Yet with feedback from other churches suggesting such instances were almost unheard of, Durham joined a growing number of Church of England cathedrals allowing worshippers and tourists to bring their dogs inside, with almost two-thirds now permitting them provided they do not disturb the congregation and are kept on a short lead.
Some impose restrictions, with Gloucester forbidding all but assistance dogs on Sundays and others barring them from café areas or upper levels of their buildings.
Coventry Cathedral even says that it accepts cats on leads, while Lincoln Cathedral declares: “Well behaved dogs are welcome throughout the cathedral and are likely to receive lots of fuss from our staff and volunteers.”
Durham Cathedral had been compelled to allow the pets in on a trial basis, Allen explained, after finding that an increasing number of pilgrims had been showing up with their dogs following days of travel only to be turned away at its great oak doors.
Inspired by ancient pilgrimage routes, the Northern Saints Trail was launched in 2021 as a way of tying together the northeast’s medieval Christian heritage. The network of six long-distance paths has attracted an influx of walkers to the cathedral, many of whom come with their canines in tow.
Allen said that there was something “very homely” about allowing the dogs inside, adding: “The cathedral is a space that belongs to everybody and it does symbolise something quite significant that you can bring your dog in with you too; come and make this your home, spiritually and otherwise.”
A couple visiting from Lancashire said that they had been “pleasantly surprised” to learn that Penny, their eight-year-old Hungarian vizsla, could also take a stroll under the cathedral’s famous rose window. “We thought one of us would have to wait outside, which is what usually happens,” Geraldine Moore, 74, said.
“I can understand not everybody likes dogs, and some people are afraid of them, but if they’re well-behaved and on a short lead, then I think it’s really nice to be able to bring them in.
“We’re increasingly a dog-friendly country and being able to take your dog on holiday with you is great.”
Mitch, 42, with Louis and Harvey, says the positives of allowing dogs into cathedrals outweigh the negatives
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Also taking a tour around the Norman cathedral was Mitch, 42, accompanied by Louis and Harvey, a pair of ten-year-old Chinese crested-chihuahua crosses. His companions are assistance dogs, allowed in all 42 Anglican cathedrals across England.
“The therapeutic benefits of having dogs, whether they are assistance dogs or dogs in general, outweigh the negative of not allowing them in,” he said. “It’s really refreshing to see that we’re becoming more accepting of the idea.”
Those cathedrals that accept dogs are Bradford, Bristol, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Chester, Chichester, Coventry, Ely, Gloucester, Leicester, Lichfield, Lincoln, Liverpool, Newcastle, Norwich, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Salisbury, Sheffield, St Albans, St Edmundsbury, Truro, Winchester, Wells, Worcester and Southwell Minster.
Those that allow assistance but not pet dogs are Birmingham, Blackburn and Oxford’s Christ Church cathedrals, plus Derby, Exeter, Guildford, Hereford, Isle of Man, Manchester, Ripon, Rochester, Southwark, St Paul’s, Wakefield and York Minster.
Durham is allowing them in on a temporary basis until March 2025, after which the policy will come under review.
