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Have a go at the Church Times caption competition, and read the latest winner and top entries

by
04 July 2025

Spencer Mulholland/Diocese of Salisbury 

Have a go at our next caption competition (above). Send entries by email only to captioncompetition@churchtimes.co.uk by 9 a.m., Monday 14 July.

We invite readers’ ideas for photos: please provide a credit and confirm that those pictured are happy for the photo to be used.

Here is the winning entry for the previous competition:    

AlamyAlamy

Proof that a quiet revival has broken out on the Isle of Dogs (Simon Stevens)

 

A SELECTION of this week’s entries:

“There are too many dogmas in the C of E!” (Sue Chick); “If paradise is open to all God’s creatures, then dressed like this, do we still need to be microchipped to get past St Peter?” (David Norfolk); “To the shock of the incumbent, the diocese of Chelmsford unveil the new Bishop of Barking” (Philip Lickley); “I’ve got a Bishop of Yorkshire Terrier outfit that would be perfect for him” (Susan Patel); “Which way to the Pet Service? He’s the official interpreter” (Chris Hammett); Do you know if they’ve chosen the next Archbishop yet? Mitre done!” (Peter Beal); “He’s not God’s Rottweiler, this one!” (Paul Brett).

“I’m so thrilled: ‘Habemus Pupam’” (John Saxbee); “I only asked for him to be blessed — not ordained!” (Valerie Budd); Holy Hound!. . . Is that Pup John Paw or the Barkbishop of Panterbury?” (Martin Kettle); “Please, no more jokes about dog collars” (Stephen Woodbridge);They say we are all ‘going to the dogs’, but this is ridiculous” (Paulette Yallop).

“We all laughed when he was made Bishop of Catford” (Bill de Quick); “The mitre and the stole aren’t the same colour. I call that a paw show” (Peter M. Potter); “He delivers a Pawsome sermon!” (Chaz Griffiths); “He wants to make sure all dogs go to heaven” (Amy Simpson); He’s more into licking faces than washing feet” (Chris Coupe); “‘Are you from the Isle of Dogs?’ asked the Bishop of Barking” (Mary Hawkins); “Forgive me, Father, for I have sniffed . . . and maybe stolen a few treats” (Anthony Greenman).

I’m running for Canterbury: can I count on your support?” (Richard Fagan); “Well, dog collars are so last year, don’t you think?” (Martin Allen); “Hello, yes, he’s just finished recording Paws for Thought with the Bishop of Barking” (David Low); “High Church-Low Church” (Richard Strudwick); “Fido started off as a humble support dog but is now my spiritual adviser” (Mervyn Cox); “Dog collars all round today!” (Will Murfitt); “My dog is Mitrie’r than your dog’’ (Eric Jones); Blessed are the belly rubbers, for they shall inherit the squeaky toys” (Anthony Gore).

“You mitre told me it was smart cas’” (Joan Workman); Yes, the breed is a cockapope” (Abby May); A papal blessing would give her the edge at Crufts” (Brian Stevenson); “The Church Times caption competition wondered whether it would be prudent to paws jokes about bishops going to the dogs” (Michael Foster); “No, I really am St Bernard” (Brad Start); He’s friendly — he’s not a Papal Bull terrier” (Brian Davies); “This is Bishop Fido: he’s the diocesan adviser on dogmatic theology” (Geoffrey Robinson); “He’s actually a sheepdog. We’re training him to care for the flock” (Nick Baker).

As ever, the winner receives a prize of Fair­trade chocolate, courtesy of Divine Chocolate.

divinechocolate.com

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