Labradors were taken to serve in Tewkesbury Abbey (9 photos)

The Priory of St Mary the Virgin in Tewkesbury, known as Tewkesbury Abbey, is famous not only for its 900-year history, but also for its special servants. The two black Labradors of the priest Chris Skepper have become a regular part of the services.

Two black Labradors have become official employees of Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire





The story began when Chris Skepper's wife and daughter left home for a long time, leaving him alone with two dogs. The man had to carry out his duties at the abbey and at the same time take care of the pets.



Eventually, Skepper asked permission to take Labradors Eric and Florence (Flo) to work.

"Originally, we planned for the dogs to be here temporarily, for three weeks, and only on condition of good behavior," says Chris. "However, their arrival caused such a positive reaction from the staff and parishioners that we allowed them to stay."

Eric and Flo make it easy for those who aren't as familiar with the church





"If you've been involved in the church for a long time, you forget how scary it can be for unchurched people to walk into a building. And then they walk in and see the dogs and think, 'Oh, that's normal!' It breaks down barriers. "The animals make them smile," he added.



The pets are very well trained. Every time Skepper brings them, they happily jump out of the car. And as soon as he puts collars on them, they know they're at work.



"Labradors were bred as a working breed of dog, and they want to be around you and make you happy with their presence. If you give them clear instructions, they get the job done," the owner explained.

They're doing great in their new roles



A study by Virginia Commonwealth University found that people who were able to be around their pets during the workday were significantly less stressed than those who were forced to leave their pets at home.



Toby Griffin, Director of Information technologies of the marketing agency Rise at Seven, I agree with this.

"I was allowed to take my collies into the office. Now they meet new people and gain experience, and I get to spend more time with my colleagues,” the man told the BBC.



Like many, Griffin got dogs during the pandemic. When it came time to return to the office, it turned out that leaving pets at home was not so easy.

“Dogs not only bring coziness to your home, but they also help increase productivity,” says Mia King, one of the heads of Rise at Seven.