It's heartbreaking to hear this, one has to question what type of garbage would do this? I know what I would do to them. We go to Church every Sunday, people don't have to believe in a religion, just respect those who do and their Churches, it's not a lot to ask. An ancient church on the Gwynedd coast has survived centuries of sea storms that battered its stonework and often left it buried in sand. At one point the building was abandoned completely, allowing local fishermen to hang their nets on its altar rail.
But St Tanwg's Church in Llandanwg's sand dunes, near Harlech, endured. Its collapsed roof was restored in 1884, and the building underwent a £20,000 restoration in 1987. The work ensured it remains one of the oldest places of continuous Christian worship in the UK.The site is believed to date to around 435AD, though the present building dates to the early Medieval period. In the churchyard is the grave of Welsh poet Sion Phillips, a contemporary of Shakespeare who was drowned whilst crossing from Shell Island to Llandanwg in 1620.Even buildings as venerable as this are not immune from criminality. Last December, thiefs snuck inside and stole silver and brass items from Meirionnydd’s little “Church in the Sand”. Items removed in the “high value" theft included candle holders and a communion cup.
These might not have been as eye-catching as the brass eagle removed from an Edgbaston church five months earlier, or as costly as the £90,000 break-in at Sherborne Abbey in August 2024. But for a church as humble as this, the loss was just as painful.
New data shows that, in a three-year period from 2022-24, almost 487 crimes were committed at churches in Wales. Theft of lead from roofs is a constant threat but gratuitous vandalism of these precious buildings is a growing challenge.In 2022, vandals broke through protective meshing to smash historic stained-glass windows at Llanllwchaiarn church, Newtown, Powys. The repair costs were estimated to be more than £30,000. In the same year, Eglwys y Grog, near the cliffs at Mwnt, Ceredigion, was also targeted, with hooligans smashing all the windows and tearing down a concrete pillar that contained the church’s donations box. At the time it was described as a “senseless” act of vandalism.In 2022, vandals broke through protective meshing to smash historic stained-glass windows at Llanllwchaiarn church, Newtown, Powys. The repair costs were estimated to be more than £30,000. In the same year, Eglwys y Grog, near the cliffs at Mwnt, Ceredigion, was also targeted, with hooligans smashing all the windows and tearing down a concrete pillar that contained the church’s donations box. At the time it was described as a “senseless” act of vandalism.
The crime figures were collated by the Countryside Alliance following a series of Freedom of Information requests. Mo Metcalf-Fisher, its director of external affairs, said: “These figures bring into stark relief the devastating fact that many churches and places of worship are being treated as easy targets by criminals.
“These are supposed to be places of refuge and tranquillity, where people go to worship or seek solace - but all too often they are being subjected to heinous crimes, either in or on their property.
“Irrespective of faith or none, churches are more than just community buildings, they are often part of our centuries-old history and heritage. They must be protected.”
Records from North Wales Police revealed that, over the three-year period, 184 church crimes were reported. Vandalism was a particular concern with 100 cases recorded. The data collected from three police forces in Wales is set out below (Dyfed Powys Police didn’t respond to an FOI request).Across Britain, a total of 3,937 thefts were reported, including 179 lead thefts. Other crimes included sexual assault, drug trafficking and “crimes against society”.
It meant that, on average, at least eight crimes took place at churches every day over the three-year period. Police chiefs have called the trend “abhorrent”.
The Alliance is calling on the UK Government to extend and guarantee future funding for the Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme. This is provided free of charge by the Home Office to protect places of worship in England and Wales.
In addition, the organisation is pushing for the development of a new aggravated offence relating to the “loss or damage of heritage assets”.
Mr Metcalf-Fisher said: “We cannot allow these precious places, which are often the centre of villages and towns in Wales and across the country, to go unguarded and be so exposed.
“Easy access to protective funding schemes is of the greatest importance, but it is just as vital that members of the public keep an ever-watchful eye on churches and report suspicious behaviour to police.”
North Wales Police has appealed for information about the St Tanwg thefts in Llandanwg. This can be reported by calling 101 quoting reference 24001050659 From....https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/alarm-bells-ring-gwynedds-tiny-31511696?int_source=nba
Comments
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comment