MAYOR of Derry City and Strabane District Council Cllr Maolíosa McHugh has offered his support to the congregation of Christ Church on Infirmary Road, after it was damaged following act of vandalism.
He visited the Church this afternoon ands aid he was deeply shocked and horrified on hearing about the attack and was keen to reach out to Bishop Good, Archdeacon Robert Miller and the Church congregation to offer the support of the people of the City and District.
Catholic Bishop of Derry Most Reverend Donal McKeown also paid a personal visit to offer his support and that of the community to Archdeacon Miller.
Mayor McHugh described the incident as “a despicable act of wanton destruction” and offered his sympathy to the Church of Ireland clergy and parishoners. He appealed to the public who have any information to report it to the authorities.
“I was absolutely disgusted to hear about this attack on a place of worship.
“It is disgraceful that anyone would want to vandalise and destroy a church in this way and my heart goes out to the local community who are directly affected by this.
“I was particularly annoyed to hear that the stained glass windows and a prized organ were among the items damaged in the attack.
“This is an attack on the whole community and there is no support whatsoever for this type of vandalism and I would encourage anyone who has any information to come forward so the culprits can be brought to book.”
Bishop Donal McKeown said the local community would support Christ Church.
He said: “We feel for the Church of Ireland community that worships here, a church where we have been so often for ceremonies, for concerts and for events.
“I think we have a real sense of solidarity with them.”
Police are investigating the incident but as yet have not established a motive for the attack.
Condemning the attack DUP MLA Gary Middleton said: “This is a disgusting attack on a place of worship, but it also represents an attack on the whole community.
“I would hope however that the congregation and Archdeacon can take some heart from the condemnation which has emanated from all corners within the city.
Archdeacon Robert Miller inspecting the damage to the organ at Christ Church
Sinn Féin MP Elisha McCallion said those responsible for this attack were not representative of the people of Londonderry.
“All places of worship should be treated with respect and any attack on them is an act of sacrilege.
“Not only was the historic church organ vandalised but other sacred items were also destroyed.”
The vandals are believed to have broken in through one of the church’s stained-glass windows, before smashing a panel behind the organ, said Archdeacon Miller, the rector of the Christ Church, Culmore, Muff and Saint Peter’s group of Church of Ireland parishes.
“They climbed in behind the organ and used broken glass, probably from bottles of altar wine which they’d smashed, to cut parts of the mechanism which makes the organ work,” he said.
Archdeacon Miller said the organ at the Infirmary Road church was likely to be out of action for some time.
“Our church organist was heartbroken when he saw the extent of the damage,” he said.
“The instrument was installed in 2000, four years after the previous organ had been destroyed in a fire. So, this latest act of vandalism has come as a severe blow to us.”
One parishoner described those behind the break-in, vandalism and desecration of Christ Church as nothing more than “vermin”.
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