We are very sad to announce that our beloved Church cat, Pushkin, died peacefully on Thursday, 29 January at the age of nearly 16.
As well as being a remarkably effective mouser who kept our church free of vermin, he was a special pastoral presence loved by many parishioners and visitors alike. His online presence inspired people worldwide and drew many visitors to St Philip’s.
Pushkin Memorial – 15 February 2026, by Rupert SteeleWhen I suggested in September 2018 that Pushkin might find enjoyable employment as a church cat, ridding us of a mouse problem that seemed insuperable, I had no idea of how big a part the church – his church – he would become. Over the years, not only did he keep us clear of mice but he stole our hearts – and occasionally our food.
But let’s begin at the beginning, when in 2010 the Steele family acquired a pair of kittens of farmyard stock. A female tabby called Tabitha and a black and white male, eventually called Pushkin. When they were ready and had recovered from the necessary but unspeakable operations by the vet, Pushkin went to a friend of Isabel and Tabitha stayed with us. She proceeded to decimate the wildlife of Chiswick.
Some years later, Pushkin’s owners moved to a place where he could not follow, so he was handed back to us. In due course, he became free just as we at St Philip’s were despairing of how to deal with the rodents.
That problem did not last long. I’d like to think that most of the mouse removal was achieved by intimidation and only a few needed to be killed to encourage the others. Where the latter course was deemed necessary, the remains would be deposited before the Vicar’s stall – I think in an effort to teach us hunting skills. But perhaps also part of the intimidation tactics for any remaining mice, and to remind Pippa who was really the boss.
Where he came into his own, however, was his interaction with us all. He was a cat who knew his mind, and made sure that everybody else did too. But he did crave human contact, on his terms and in the quantity he wanted. Woe betide anybody who did not recognise when he had had enough.
Despite his feisty character, he did develop an amazing ministry to those who visited the church to pray. He would come and sit with them, as if praying too. People found that a huge comfort.
Helen, our curate who moved to her first vicar role in summer 2025, recounts how Pushkin doing just that was the trigger that convinced her to join us. And she formed a special bond with him. She was the only person who could play fight with him without losing any blood.
He shared with me an unhealthy obsession with technology and our sound system. I think he liked the warmth, but he would frequently operate various controls – usually ones that turned the sound off if anything went on too long.
One visitor whom he comforted was a lady from South Africa. She went on to commission an artist to draw the watercolours which adorn this year’s Pushkin calendar and which will serve so beautifully to remind us all of him.
He was supported here by his team of staff, including Pippa, Helen, Simon, Sean and Olesia without whose help it would not have been possible to have him here. He would run to greet them morning and evening as the church was opened and closed.
He became an adornment for much of the church’s publicity and his merchandise – calendars, cards, bookmarks could be guaranteed to sell each Christmas. We absolutely didn’t see that coming.
Dogs. What can I say? They were his Bête Noire. Only ones that paid him proper respect were allowed in his church – and any others were firmly and not too politely shown the door. The Blessing of the Animals service was not easy for him – though his reaction to it certainly provided some extra entertainment.
His work ethic was remarkable. As his health began to fail, he carried on his patrols to keep us vermin free. In his last week, as the end was near, he emulated the late Queen Elizabeth II by carrying on working, killing one final mouse. Retirement was not for him. His sense of duty would not countenance it.
He brought hundreds of people through the open doors of the church to see the cat. Remarkably effective evangelism on four paws. It is unthinkable that St Philip’s could now be without a cat.
So, yes, a successor to Pushkin has been identified and is in training. You will hear more about them in the weeks to come. But today is Pushkin’s day.
Good and faithful servant, we bid you goodbye with grateful thanks. You lived your best life with us in this building, and you gave so much back. Thank you.