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Catapults force church to hold service in cafe

Vicky CastleSouth East
John Nurden Pigeons sit on a roof in front of broken glass windowsJohn Nurden
The church windows have been damaged in suspected catapult attacks

A church congregation on the Isle of Sheppey has been forced to hold Sunday services in a cafe after repeated suspected catapult attacks left its worship space unsafe.

Ball bearings fired through skylights at the joint United Reformed and Methodist church in Hope Street, Sheerness, caused glass to shower onto chairs, carpets and the communion table, according to minister Lynne LeMasonry.

The congregation has now moved services into the building's Lighthouse Cafe while plans are made to replace damaged glass in the church roof with a "bullet proof" alternative.

Kent Police said it was aware of reports of criminal damage at the church and had made catapult-related incidents a priority, adding that such behaviour would "not be tolerated".

LeMasonry said: "We have been subjected to vandalism from young people since February.

"They have been shooting ball bearings from catapults through our windows. We think they are aiming at the pigeons, which is really sad and awful."

John Nurden A woman with black glasses and a cross necklace looks at the cameraJohn Nurden
LeMasonary said it was sad young people could not find "anything better to do than kill wildlife"

"Every day we go in and find new shards of glass all over the place, over the chairs, on the carpets and on the communion table.

"We have had to come out of the church and into the coffee shop. But the congregation doesn't like it. It's not right and it's not comfortable."

The damaged glass forms part of a lantern roof structure added to the 143-year-old church in 2006.

LeMasonry said the church's insurer had agreed to discuss a safer replacement, although the work was still expected to cost thousands of pounds.

In the meantime, some windows are expected to be boarded up to protect worshippers.

John Nurden Inside a church there are seats facing the frontJohn Nurden
Skylights at the joint United Reformed and Methodist church in Hope Street, Sheerness have been broken

LeMasonry's ordination service is due to take place in September, and she said she hoped the congregation would be able to return to the church beforehand.

Neighbourhood officer PC Alison Honess said reports from residents had helped police target patrols and reduce some incidents.

"This is a nationwide issue and not isolated to Sheerness," she said.

"It causes reckless damage, causes fear to the community and although it is not currently illegal to possess a catapult in public, it will be removed should anyone be found in possession of one without a lawful excuse."

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