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Christmas: Dogs perform Welsh chapel's nativity play

The Christ-mutts Story, told by three wise whippets

The Christmas story has been told with the help of a Welsh chapel's unlikely helpers - the congregation's dogs.

Gellionnen Chapel enlisted about 10 dogs to help perform the nativity to "cheer people up" watching at home.

A Facebook video with baby Jesus played by a pug Jack Russell cross and the three wise men as whippets, has already racked up more than 3,000 views.

Reverend Rory Castle Jones, minister of the chapel near Pontardawe, Swansea, said it was chaos organising them.

No auditions were held for the parts, with dogs selected because they looked like certain characters.

"We looked at each dog and thought 'Who looks like they could be a Mary, who looks like they could be a good shepherd?'

"We had a very cute tiny puppy - so obviously that had to be Jesus."

Sean Walker/ Gellionnen Chapel Three dogs dressed as Mary, Joseph and the baby JesusSean Walker/ Gellionnen Chapel
The baby Jesus was played by a Jack Russell pug cross puppy, called Margaret

Margaret, the dog who played Jesus, was the "most well behaved" and stayed still wrapped in her blanket, the minister said.

"She seemed to sum up the whole thing really, not what you'd expect, but perfect for the role and ridiculously cute," Mr Castle Jones said.

Meanwhile, the three wise men were played by three whippets - one of which, Edna, was the minister's own pet.

Sean Walker/ Gellionnen Chapel Three whippets, Edna, Betty and Topsy dressed as the three wise menSean Walker/ Gellionnen Chapel
The three whippets, Edna, Betty and Topsy played the three wise men
Rev Rory Castle Jones Rev Rory Castle Jones and dogs on his ordinationRev Rory Castle Jones
Rev Rory Castle Jones said the chapel was dog-friendly

"They all get on very well and enjoy running laps of the chapel, and they are there every Sunday," he added.

The pooches were dressed in tinsel, tea towels and colourful scarves brought by members of the congregation to assume their roles.

"They didn't like the costumes, but it was all quite ridiculous and bizarre," Rev Rory Castle Jones said.

Sean Walker/ Gellionnen Chapel Mary and Joseph were played by dogs Finley and FearneSean Walker/ Gellionnen Chapel
Mary and Joseph were played by dogs Finley and Fearne
Sean Walker/ Gellionnen Chapel Lottie the sheep dog plays the angel GabrielSean Walker/ Gellionnen Chapel
Bark! The herald angel sings

"We didn't have any arguments over casting. But some of the dogs didn't work so well with others."

"The inn keepers was a bit grumpy. I don't think she was particularly excited about welcoming Mary and Joseph to the chapel, but she excelled in the end."

He added that the three wise whippets preferred to run everywhere, rather than walk wisely.

"It was utter chaos, definitely. But we had some tricks up our sleeves," the minister said.

Sean Walker/ Gellionnen Chapel Three dogsSean Walker/ Gellionnen Chapel
Treats were used to help direct the pooches in their roles

Treats were wrapped in tights and swung around at the end of bamboo canes and owners strategically positioned at certain places in the chapel to direct the action.

"It was quite a strange sight for people walking past up the mountain to see all these people waving sticks with tights on and dogs running around in costumes - so we had to do some explaining," he added.

The whole production took a several hours in a morning to make the two minute film.

Gellionnen Chapel A dog dressed as a shepherdGellionnen Chapel
Next year it could be cats taking on the chapel's nativity

Mr Castle Jones said the chapel's team who organise events had wanted to "put a smile of people's faces" and give people a "nice, warm Christmas feeling".

The dogs themselves were volunteered by their owners who are members of the chapel's congregation or friends in the nearby area.

He added that the chapel was open to new ideas for its nativity next year, but there have already been suggestions for cats to take up the task - or more exotic animals.