Sanctus and Kyrie, the resident church cats, show up at christenings, weddings, funerals and Sunday services, lounging in the aisle or on their favourite pews.

The two moggies are sisters.

Kyrie is committed to the historic church and Sanctus who is happy to divide her time between the church and a neighbour’s house.

That’s where she was when the Mercury turned up for this photo shoot.

Brides have been known to side-step the pair when making their way down the aisle and Sunday worshippers have been left stunned when they felt a nudge on the leg from under the pews.

Parish priest Father David Battrick told the Mercury the pair had become a feature of the church.

“They have been at everything over the past four years. It’s a bit of a fun thing,” he said.

“They wander around occasionally but usually sleep most of the day.

“It’s an old tradition to have cats in cathedrals in Europe to keep rats and mice down.

“They add to the peace and calm of the place,” Father David said.

But the felines are not without their knockers.

Some parishioners are vowing they will not go back to the church until the moggies have departed.

“I’m not aware of anyone finding them offensive,” he said.

Fr David said his parishioners have certain pews they like to sit in, as do the cats.

“They really do as they please. They sprawl out on the aisle and the rest of us have to give them a wide berth.

“There are people who actually come in to see the cats.

“It’s a nice moment when they realise they are part and parcel of the church.

“They are the fabric of the place. They add to its peace.”