News Church hit by second lead theft
"LEAVE us alone" was the message from the vicar at a village church which has been targeted by metal thieves for the second time in two months.
St Mary's in Heminbrough faces another repair bill in the thousands this week, even though it is still waiting to have £13,000 worth of lead and copper replaced from a similar theft which took place in July.
Curate-in-charge, Francis Loftus, said: "It is a lack of respect for the historic tradition of the church and it is just greed, human greed."
The theft, which took place some time between Wednesday and Thursday last week, has left a large hole in the roof of the building, which although covered with sheeting could still allow water in, causing even more damage. The hole left by the first crime is still waiting to be permanently fixed.
Mr Loftus said: "It is a grade 1 listed building so we can't replace the missing materials with anything other than like. The order has been placed with a firm in Birmingham, but the people doing it are inundated with work because this is happening all over the country."
He said the parish council was working with police to try to come up with a solution to the security problems.
"There is a meeting on Thursday (today) about what we can do as a quick fix and what we can do in the long term.
"We are taking advice from the police and we will do what we can to protect the place," said Mr Loftus.
He added: "One of the problems is the church is so isolated on the edge of the village. We need everybody to be watching. It is the village's church and we need people to be our eyes and ears."
In July large sheets of copper and lead drainpipes were stolen as the price of scrap metal continues to rise. That theft was described as the "worst desecration" of the church in living memory.
Anyone with any information about the offences should contact Selby police on 0845 6060247.
Published on 20th September 2007 in News.
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