Cow escapes nativity scene twice, replaced by new cow

OLD CITY (WTXF) - A cow from a living nativity scene at an Old City church caused quite a commotion Thursday morning after getting loose twice. That cow has since been sent home to the farm and replaced by another cow.

The cow from the Old First Reformed United Church of Christ nativity scene at 4th and Race Streets made its first escape early Thursday morning around 2:15 a.m., finding its way to I-95 where it was corralled by Philadelphia and State Police near Callowhill Street.

The cow was returned to the church around 4:30 a.m. 

Hours later around 6:30 a.m., the cow got loose again, this time making its way all the way to the fourth floor of an Old City parking garage at 4th and Arch Streets.

The cow, whose name is Stormy, has since been lead back to the church, where she helped herself to some breakfast.

The church’s living nativity scene has been an Old City tradition for decades.

Police are continuing to investigate how the cow may have gotten loose, and no injuries have been reported to any officers or the cow.

A pastor at the church tells FOX 29 they believe someone may have tampered with the latch, allowing the cow to push the gate open early this morning. 

After the incident, Stormy was loaded on a truck and sent back to the farm. She was replaced by Ginger, a smaller cow.