Geraldine's idea of a special service to bless and celebrate animals - the focus of much of the rural village's life - is welcomed warmly by her flock, but soon finds Dibley ridiculed in the national tabloids. Could this lead to her departure from the community already?

Alice has a very worrying problem: she is concerned that I Can't Believe It's Not Butter may in fact actually be butter! But, far more gravely, as Geraldine becomes quite bemused whilst listening to Alice's philosophising, a villager drops by who is distraught by the death of her family pet. Moved by how much this lady cared for her animal friend, Geraldine decides to hold a special service for all the animals of the rural village.

Naturally, David is outraged by the idea of having an animal church service and puts it down to Geraldine being a bit wacky; in fact, he's so angry, he contacts the bishop to once again ask that Geraldine be sacked. The bishop replies that Geraldine can go ahead with it, but that it's on her own head.

When the national tabloids hear of the event, the pressure on Geraldine grows. She is made a spectacle of in a front-page article, and David is understandably furious about the ridicule his village appears to be held in. However, the service has become the talk of the village as residents are curious as to what to expect, and the newspaper coverage has created a huge amount of interest.

On the day of the service itself, traffic is backed up far out of the village. The church is packed out, and no one - not even David - is more surprised by its success than the vicar herself.