Church windows vandalised

Custodians of a medieval village church have been forced to take drastic action to protect a stained glass window which has come under attack from vandals.

Custodians of a medieval village church have been forced to take drastic action to protect a stained glass window which has come under attack from vandals.

The beautiful window in the Lady Chapel of St Swithin's Church at Bintree has for the second time been damaged by stones and is now covered with about 18 holes, one nearly the size of a football.

Now the Rector, the Rev Nicholas Varnon and churchwarden, Miss Sheila Reynolds, are to spend around £2,000 to install a metal guard on the outside of the window after the holes have been repaired by stained glass specialists.

Miss Reynolds explained that the church, which dates back to 1219, has to apply for planning consent for the guard for the window in the south transept of the church.

She said the large window, which depicts Jesus and his concern for children in panels, was damaged in August last year.

“The police were not able to take proceedings against the person responsible because there was not enough evidence. There are now 18 holes in the window and it is the second time that it has been the target for vandalism,” said Miss Reynolds.

A second window in the tower, which is tinted glass, has also been damaged.

“This sort of damage to stained glass windows in a church is beyond belief and the money we have to spend repairing the windows could be used for other parts of the building,” said Miss Reynolds.

She added : “This sort of vandalism is really annoying and we cannot guard the church twenty-four hours a day. We only have a regular congregation of about 10 worshippers and we have tor raise the money needed to repair damage like this”.