Church graves desecrated in third attack by vandals

Lynette HorsburghNorth West
St John's the Evangelist Church Left: A close up of a stained glass window dating back to 1838 covered in fine mesh which has been smashed. Right: an image of a gravestone shaped in a cross in a churchyard which has been smashed and fallen from the base on the grass.St John's the Evangelist Church
The church said the damage was heartbreaking

A church has been left reeling after a third incident of vandalism in as many days - with the latest including the desecration of at least six graves.

St John the Evangelist Church in Abram, Wigan, also had its historic windows, which had been relocated from an original church built in 1838, damaged in two of the incidents.

The latest attack happened between 01:00 and 03:00 BST on Tuesday, Greater Manchester Police said.

The church described the incidents as "heartbreaking" and appealed for anyone with information to contact police.

In a Facebook post, the church, which has a community cafe, said the windows would cost thousands of pounds to replace.

"We are just meeting all of our bills. This will obviously make this year more difficult," the post continued.

"Trying to be positive - but if our church closes - what will happen to worship, to the churchyard, to the craft club, to the Wednesday breakfasts and everything else we try."

A police spokesman said: "This behaviour is completely unacceptable and deeply upsetting to our local community.

"We do have CCTV footage of the suspected offenders, and officers will be following up all lines of enquiry.

"We would ask anyone with information to please come forward."

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