UK COMPUTER STOLEN FROM CHURCHEditorial Detail PageIS ANYWHERE SACRED?


By Andrew Boyd

THE latest attack on a church has led to senior clergyman asking if anywhere is still considered sacred.

Canon John Glover arrived at St Anne´s Church, Rhyl, on Sunday morning for a service and found it had been vandalised and a £900 laptop computer stolen.
Damage was also caused to the church entrance and will cost thousands to repair.

The laptop had helped attract younger people to church by projecting hymns onto a big screen, but had also caught the eyes of thieves.

The attack follows an attempted theft at St Thomas´ Church, Rhyl, and an incident at the Church of Holy Spirit in Prestatyn, when the Rev Quentin Bellamy was spat at and verbally abused.

Canon Glover said: "We believe they jemmied or crowbarred their way in through the front door and smashed the glass, and then kicked the internal door and broke it."

A failed attempt is said to have been made to get into a safe containing silver communion chalices.
Police were called and inspected the church before the service was held as normal.

Canon Glover does not believe the attacks are religiously motivated but are by money-seeking individuals who showed no consideration for the church and the people who worship there.

He said: "It is very sad that people want to do this but we won´t give in during this ongoing battle.
"After this and the other incidents we are very frustrated and it makes you wonder if anywhere is sacred."

Denbighshire county councillor Elwyn Edwards, who is also on the North Wales Police Authority and Safer Communities scheme, said: "We have been putting extra police in Rhyl and things had been going well so this is definitely a big setback.
"It is very disappointing that when crime figures are so good, something as appalling as this happens to churches."

Police have asked anyone who can help them catch the culprits to call 0845 6071001 (Welsh), 0845 6071002 (English) or 0800 555111 (Crimestoppers).