Statue of Jesus decapitated and covered in paint at English church, sparking deep alarm over rising hate crimes
World War memorial statue was vandalized on the grounds of a Catholic church in Warrington during the weekend.
Sunday morning brought a scene of devastation for worshippers arriving at St. Alban's Church in the town of Warrington, Cheshire, England. A statue of Jesus Christ on the cross was found beheaded and completely covered in green and black paint, in an act of vandalism that struck at the heart of a war memorial dedicated to soldiers who died in World War I and World War II. The monument, located in the church's gardens, was discovered by a member of the congregation during the early hours of November 1.
The attack occurred amid growing concern over the security of places of worship across the United Kingdom. According to local police, the criminal act took place on Friday night between 6 PM and 10 PM. In addition to decapitating the statue and applying paint, the memorial's commemorative plaque was targeted with graffiti bearing offensive phrases directed specifically against the Catholic Church. The derogatory message was swiftly removed by a church volunteer before more people could encounter the insult.
Canon Rev. Christopher Cunningham, leader of the St. Alban's congregation, did not hesitate to describe the episode in severe terms in a social media post. “It is a true persecution”, the religious leader stated when commenting on the gravity of the event. He added that the incident crossed the line from a simple act of youthful vandalism: “I think it was more than just people having a bit of fun: it was an attack on the church”.
