The eighth annual Blessing of the Animals celebration is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 5 at 1:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church in Clanton.

The service will take place in the side garden area of the church, located at 503 Second Ave. S. in Clanton, according to a press release.

The church holds the service the first Sunday of October every year in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, a 12th-century saint who lived in Italy and was known for his great love of all of God’s creatures.

“This community prayer service offers an opportunity for people of the community to bring their pets and other animals for a prayer over them,” the Rev. Bill King, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, said in the release. “The purpose of such a prayer is primarily that we might be better caregivers for the animals we are responsible for and that all animals, according to the Book of Genesis, continue to be respected as part of God’s creation.”

People are invited to bring their pets and other animals for an individual blessing.

In previous years, people have brought a variety of animals, large and small, including dogs, cats, birds and horses.

Many churches of various traditions throughout the world offer the blessing service, the release said.

The service is free and open to the public.

For more information, call King at (205) 755-3339.