All creatures great and small were honored at St. Andrew's Blessing of the Animals
"May God bless you, your beloved pet and those whose lives you touch together," was the simple prayer offered to all companions both stuffed and lively
St. Andrew's Rev. C. Clyde Elledge had a simple prayer for all beloved animals be they alive or stuffed for the Blessing of the Animals, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. INDEPENDENT PHOTO/STEPHEN ROOD
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It was a blessed day for pet and pet owners who attended the Blessing of the Animals at St. Stephen's Saturday Oct. 10.
Rev. C. Clyde Elledge of St. Stephens invited all animals, both live and stuffed for a lighthearted, non-denominational Blessing of the Animals outside on the plaza. The aim was to celebrate the companionship, joy and unconditional love that animals bring to human's lives.
Scroll down to see how photographer Steven Rood's captured the day and all God's creatures great and small.
Rev. C. Clyde Elledge offers blessings to all animals great and small during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Andrew's Sat. Oct. 10, 2026. INDEPENDENT PHOTO/STEVENS ROODRev. C. Clyde Elledge gets a friendly kiss in exchange for a blessing during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Andrew's Sat. Oct. 10, 2026. INDEPENDENT PHOTO/STEVEN ROODThis little guy gets a blessing and a belly scratch from Rev. C. Clyde Elledge during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Andrew's Sat. Oct. 10, 2026. INDEPENDENT PHOTO/STEVEN ROODWho's being a good boy for Rev. C. Clyde Elledge during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Andrew's Sat. Oct. 10, 2026. INDEPENDENT PHOTO/STEVEN ROODSome came dressed for the season to the Blessing of the Animals at St. Andrew's Saturday Oct. 10, 2026. INDEPENDENT PHOTO/STEVEN ROODEven the tiniest creatures were blessed in a big way during the Animal Blessing at St. Andrews, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. INDEPENDENT PHOTO/STEVEN ROOD
Rev. C. Clyde Elledge offers blessings to all animals great and small during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Andrew's Sat. Oct. 10, 2026. INDEPENDENT PHOTO/STEVENS ROOD
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A new volunteer group has formed to help maintain and improve the town's rail trail, its founders announced Sept. 22.
Friends of the Marblehead Rail Trail plans to focus on maintaining, enhancing and promoting the trail, the group said in a statement. Organizers intend to work with the
Jane Austin (Ramsay) Key passed away September 25, at her home in Marblehead. She was 82.
She was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1944, the daughter of Anne Austin (Belyea) Ramsay, a descendant of New York Loyalists who settled in New Brunswick after the American Revolution and
