Parishioners left traumatised after vandals damage organ, bible and steal holy items during wrecking spree at church in Derry

Vandals who broke into Christ Church on the Infirmary Road in Derry have caused extensive damage to the church organ and other parts of the building.

The break-in was discovered by a member of the parish team who called to the church on Tuesday evening.

The police were alerted and scenes of crime officers carried out a detailed forensic search of the building. The Archdeacon of Derry, Ven. Robert Miller, who is Rector of the Christ Church, Culmore, Muff and Saint Peter’s Group of Parishes, said the incident had upset the lady who made the discovery and would cause distress, too, to members of the congregation who worship at Christ Church. “The worst of the damage was inflicted on the church organ,” Archdeacon Miller said.

“We believe those responsible broke into the church through one of the stained glass windows, and then smashed a panel behind the organ, where its inner workings are housed. 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.” Archdeacon Miller said a decanter, which was used in Holy Communion services, had been stolen during the break-in.

The tear-shaped, glass decanter had been presented to the church by former parishioners who would be deeply upset to learn of its theft. The intruders smashed a couple of windows, knocked over vases of flowers, and removed a bible from the lectern and flung it into the church sanctuary.