Friday, August 21, 2009

Crucifix removed from church wall

Vandals removed a wooden cross from the outside wall of a Carlisle church and left it damaged on a traffic island.

The crucifix was taken from St Augustine's Roman Catholic Church, in Scotland Road, overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday.

One of the arms of the figure of Jesus was damaged.

Parish priest Father Geoffrey Steel said he hoped it had been a prank or a dare rather than someone trying to cause offence.

The cross was bolted to the side of the church facing the main road at a height of about 5ft (1.5m) off the ground.

It was found lying on a traffic island between Knowefield Avenue and Cross Street.

Cumbria Police believes the offenders carried it along Kingstown Road before abandoning it.

Father Steel said: "I hope it's a drunken prank or stupid dare rather than someone deliberately setting out to cause offence."

He said the damage to the cross, a central figure for the faith, would upset parishioners and asked those responsible to reflect on that and to take responsibility for what they had done.

After police return the cross, the church will try to have it repaired and put back on the wall.
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SIC: BBC