Sunday, April 15, 2012

Parishioners outrage after Liverpool church targeted by vandals who tried to set altar alight

VANDALS smashed their way into a city church setting fire to the altar and torching religious texts.

Several small blazes were ignited by the yobs who broke into Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs in Croxteth.

The Catholic church, on Stonebridge Lane, was forced to shut down as volunteer workers cleaned up the damage.

One congregation member today labelled the vandals “vile morons” as fire chiefs warned the arson attacks could have consumed the entire church.

Deacon Malcolm Fletcher told the ECHO how a passer-by spotted smoke billowing from the church at around 4.30pm on Easter Monday.

He revealed that the embroidered cloth that covers the stone altar was among artefacts set alight.

The dad-of-two said: “Whoever did it seemed to go around and just start fires. It’s mindless vandalism and we’ve been left to pick up the pieces. It appears to be vandalism rather than a concerted attempt to set fire to the church but it has caused a mess and cosmetic damage. We have closed the church this week while we sort everything out. People are very upset at what they have seen. It could have been a lot worse and we are thankful to God for that.”

It is thought the vandals smashed a coloured glass feature window and forced their way into the church.

Fire crews said that once inside the yobs started several fires in four areas of the building with flames destroying Mass books and carpet.

A spokesman said many of the windows at the church appeared to have been smashed.