Criminals wreck parish church roof

CRIME: A community has been left devastated after thieves targeted its 15th century Grade II listed church causing more than £100,000 of damage.

The parish church of St Peter’s in Brafferton, North Yorkshire, is believed to have been targeted by a gang of professional criminals, who stole most of its nave roof leading.

A NORTH Yorkshire community has been left devastated after thieves targeted its 15th century Grade II listed church causing more than £100,000 of damage in what is feared was a targeted offence by a criminal gang.

The parish church of St Peter’s in Brafferton is believed to have been targeted by a gang of professional criminals, who stole 60 per cent of its nave roof leading, resulting in rainwater flooding the ancient building which is a focal point of the community.

The church verger made the discovery when he went to open up the building on Friday morning last week.

The theft comes just weeks after The Yorkshire Post revealed churches across the county are being targeted by organised crime groups with a call from one of Yorkshire’s most senior members of the clergy the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt Rev Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, for a greater strategic partnership to protect religious buildings.

St Peter’s Church curate, the Rev Carmel Gittens, said the whole community has been left devastated by what has happened.

“We have just had a £160,000 lottery grant for renovation which is at the end of completion and involved numerous repairs and new stonework which took several years to deliver, so we are absolutely devastated,” she said.

“It is a well-organised crowd that have done this, it was late at night when no one was around and it was a sophisticated set-up, they knew what they are doing.

“We have contacted our insurance but they will only cover £7,500 and the actual cost is around £100,000.

“We feel that we cannot ask the community to put their hands in their pockets to help us, especially with Christmas coming up, but any donations would be extremely welcome.”

The church, described as the focal point in the village, has now had its roof covered with a temporary sheet, until money can be raised for the rest of the repairs.

The Rev Gittens said: “It isn’t the perfect solution but for now it will have to do.

“We have all our festival services here and there is a Sunday service every week so we need the church to remain open.

“It is also used for baptisms, weddings and funerals.”

Since 2017 there has been 2,532 crimes on churches across Yorkshire recorded by the four police forces. Of the 2,532 offences, 101 were lead thefts, 517 were general thefts, 429 criminal damage and 272 violent offences.

North Yorkshire had 205 crimes recorded against churches including 17 cases of lead theft, 99 general thefts, 73 criminal damage and reports and 16 violent offences.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to help with the repairs can contact the Rev Gittens at Monk Green House in Alne for further information.

It was late at night when no one was around, it was a sophisticated set-up.

The Rev Carmel Gittens, curate of St Peter’s in Brafferton.