Based on the romantic comedy manga by Hazano Kazutake, Saint Cecilia And Pastor Lawrence is an anime series by the Japanese animation studio Doga Kobo and director Sumie Noro.

Pastor Lawrence (Josh Bangle) is the good-natured minister at a small village church that also houses Lady Saint Cecilia (Hannah Alyea), a carefree young woman with supernatural abilities. The town adores them and its inhabitants frequently visit them. Unknown to the pastor, Cecilia is falling in love with him as he cares for her, but he is oblivious. Their lives get complicated when Lawrence’s lackadaisical seminary friend Pastor Abel (Austin Tindle) and his strong-willed student Hazelita (Sarah Roach) arrive at the parish and begin to meddle in the peaceful lives of Lawrence and Cecilia.

Many anime portray organized religion, Christian and otherwise, as a negative or corrupt influence on society. This one portrays Christians and ministers in a positive light. While it is unclear what denomination is being portrayed, looks to be a mix of Catholic and Orthodox, they are seen as a positive influence on society. It was a nice change of pace to see Christians and their values portrayed, albeit with some fantasy elements, included as a force for good.

As for the anime itself, it is incredibly heartwarming. A lot of anime rely on fan service or action to keep you invested, but not so here. The story focuses on the budding romance between the pastor and the lady saint. This causes drama as Cecilia, who often loafs around when not on duty, tries to show Lawrence how she feels, but his oblivious nature gets in the way, even when friends try to intervene. It is fun and entertaining to watch.

I also liked how the characters were designed. They all had unique qualities and were drawn with a lot of grace. The animators did a fantastic job of bringing it to life.

Normally, I do not enter the sub versus dub debate as I think it is silly. In this case, I watched both. Nothing against the Japanese cast, all who did an excellent job. That being said, this one made much more sense with the English dub. The dub cast did a fantastic job and truly brought out the roles, making them connect a bit more.

If you are looking for a nice change of pace, this anime is the right one for you. It is charming, humorous, and heartwarming. It focuses on the good side of humanity and that is something we all need. I do hope it gets renewed for a second season.

Check out the trailer below:

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Some minor violence

This review is based on the dub from Crunchyroll.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, anime, or novel you would like me to review. While you are at it, check out my reviews of the second season of Jujutsu Kaisen and My Happy Marriage. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more posts like this one.

Connect with me on social media. Consider supporting StudioJake on Locals.