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Anger over lead thefts at Blackburn church

8:40pm Tuesday 7th September 2010 in


A CHURCH warden said he won’t give in to lead thieves by putting up razor wire and CCTV as it will 'make it look like a concentration camp'.

Alan Barry, 72, warden at St Francis Feniscliffe Church in Witton, told how the inside of the St Francis Road premises was ‘like a lake’ after rainwater seeped in overnight.

Scrap metal thieves had ripped up and smashed 50 slates to get to the lead flashing and gulley soakers, which they had removed from the roof and walls, leaving the building exposed.

The Vicar’s vestry and choir vestry were worst hit, flooding both rooms and damaging expensive garments and pictures.

Mr Barry made the ‘upsetting’ discovery on Tuesday morning. Police believe those responsible struck sometime between 2.30pm on Monday and overnight into Tuesday.

Mr Barry said: “No-one has respect for churches anymore. Now they are just another way of making money.

“The damage this has done to our church far exceeds what they will have got for the lead.

“It seems the only way to go is to put up razor wire and CCTV, but on a church that is scandalous. It’ll look like a concentration camp.

“This is going to cost us a lot of money and it’s a constant battle to keep asking people for more and more donations.”

Mr Barry and fellow warden Joe Felipes spent 200 hours over the summer redecorating the neighbouring church hall after that was hit by vandals two months ago.

He added: “We are determined to move forward, but we seem to take two steps forward and four back with these constant problems."

Police have appealed for witnesses to contact 0845 1 253545.

Comments(17)

ste.g says...
9:18pm Tue 7 Sep 10

This is going to cost us a lot of money and it’s a constant battle to keep asking people for more and more donations.”

then dont you think you should stop playing god with other peoples money and put the wire up so it cant happen again,because if you think they wont be back they will.

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Michael@ClitheroeSince58 says...
9:25pm Tue 7 Sep 10

God will protect you, why do you need razor wire?

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DEO VOLENTE says...
9:51pm Tue 7 Sep 10

If this vandalism and criminal damage was occuring at "other" religious bulidings, I believe that the police would be more active in apprehending those responsible. In addition as we know crime exploded under the "New Labour" government. "New Labour" are and always were "Soft on Crime and Soft on the causes of Crime". In addition "New Labour" political correctness prevented the police from undertaking their duties. Now that the U.K. electorate have rejected "New Labour" it will of course take the new coalition government some time to reverse "New Labour" lamentable, negative, disorientated "Left Wing" thinking. Notwithstanding the latter point the tide is turning and the "infection" that gained momentum in the U.K. under "New Labour" is slowly but surely being fought and cleansed. We must never let "New Labour" infect and corrupt the U.K. again.
Deus Vobiscum

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lsm says...
7:34am Wed 8 Sep 10

VOTE VOTE VOTE FOR NEW LABOUR THEY WILL BE ARE SAVIOUR VOTE VOTE VOTE FOR NEW LABOUR COME ON DEO VOLENTE SING UP AGAIN VOTE VOTE VOTE FOR NEW LABOUR.

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useyourhead says...
8:25am Wed 8 Sep 10

NEW LABOUR FOR ME, where do i sign!
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deo has got stuck on repeat methinks!
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well thats what i'm assuming, i never read em

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Ken Shuffles says...
12:19pm Wed 8 Sep 10

It's still a rational excuse for asking the flockers to donate. I can't imagine what sort of Christian would do such a thing.

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Joseph O'M says...
12:39pm Wed 8 Sep 10

I'm shocked by the lack of sympathy and respect in these comments. However, I'd have hoped that this damage would be covered under insurance?

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your granny says...
12:58pm Wed 8 Sep 10

i was actually going to vote for the lib dems but saying what a mess they are making of the country i am going to vote for............NEW LABOUR, especially as they wanted to introduce a new mental health bill that would put loonies (yes DEO VOLENTE, i mean you) into a place of safety before they did any real damage.

Shame about the roof. Maybe a way of sealing it without using lead could be found?

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defective typewriter says...
1:19pm Wed 8 Sep 10

please dont put up razor wire as i dont want to cut myself again, and i may have to sue you because of it.

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useyourhead says...
4:35pm Wed 8 Sep 10

defective typewriter wrote:
please dont put up razor wire as i dont want to cut myself again, and i may have to sue you because of it.
lol, i'll give you a good price for the lead mate.
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if everything is gods will they perhaps ought to just accept it!

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powerpop says...
5:23pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Put a first-aid box and an accident report book up there. They will sign it, and you will have their names.

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ste.g says...
6:38pm Wed 8 Sep 10

looking at the picture he is breaking health and safety regulations himself

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ste.g says...
6:49pm Wed 8 Sep 10

looking at the picture he is breaking health and safety regulations himself

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defective typewriter says...
6:56pm Wed 8 Sep 10

ill be back up the roof soon, please leave me some wine and snacks, its thirsty hungry work leading..it is,
oh yeah, you can see blackburn with darwen tower from up here..you can.

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Mickanwar82 says...
9:02pm Wed 8 Sep 10

So what if leads gone, who's assed the only reason it's made the papers is because it's a church, with some guy sat on the pic feeling all sorry for himself,, get a real job man,, keep it up lead thiefs!!!! Why not???? If/ when they are caught they only get a telling off by this stupid system we all live in! It's are own faults it happens! If the punishment was death for example no lead would ever go missing!!!! Keep it up lead thiefs and hope you all make lots of cash !! Thankyou for reading and look forward to all your innocent views on myrealistic point!!!

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rovers-baz says...
11:54am Thu 9 Sep 10

why don`t the police go and knock on a few caravans on the ewood site? scum bags

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ponto52 says...
7:45pm Fri 10 Sep 10

you need ubifex the non lead alternative sold at all good plumbers merchants.

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