Man Charged in Connection with Church Vandalism in Leyland
(Photo: Paul Wharton-Hardman)
The peaceful town of Leyland, near Preston, was unsettled over Easter due to a disturbing series of vandalism incidents targeting local churches. Authorities have now charged a man, following these events that sparked outrage among the community.
Reports emerged on April 18 regarding obscene graffiti that defaced St James Church and several of its gravestones. A subsequent incident occurred on April 27, when a window at St Mary’s Church was shattered.
Joseph Williams, aged 30, has been apprehended and charged concerning these acts. He was scheduled to face the Preston Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning.
Williams faces 10 criminal damage charges, notably including two counts of religiously aggravated criminal damage linked to the incidents at St James and St Mary’s Churches. Additional charges pertain to unrelated vandalism in the area.
The graffiti at St James Church included vulgar images and offensive language, with messages such as “god is a lie.” Parishioners discovered the defacement on Good Friday, a significant day in Christianity marking Jesus’ crucifixion.
Reaction to the vandalism was swift, with condemnation from church leaders including Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, the interim head of the Church of England, and Philip North, the Bishop of Blackburn.
“For this precious holy ground to be so appallingly desecrated is deeply shocking,” Archbishop Cottrell expressed in a message to the affected congregation.
Bishop Philip North described the act as “the most disgraceful attack on a Christian community on the most solemn day of the year,” and lamented it as “such a sad end to Good Friday.”
In response to the vandalism, the church concealed the offensive graffiti with plants to proceed with an Easter wedding planned for the weekend. The graffiti has since been professionally removed.
The Bishop of Burnley, Rt Rev Joe Kennedy, participated in a rededication ceremony on Easter Sunday alongside the vicar and congregation of St James, reaffirming the community’s resilience and faith.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
