Vandals smash headstones at church and ‘destroy history overnight’
By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter
Headstones have been “smashed to pieces with a sledgehammer” at a church.
The vandalism at Croydon Minster “destroyed history overnight,” a spokesman for the church said.
Gravestones were allegedly targeted by “mindless vandals” three times over three nights.
It comes a week after memorials were attacked by vandals at the Honor Oak Crematorium in Brockley Way.
A representative of Croydon Minster church said they were “devastated” by the destruction.
They claimed the first spate of vandalism happened between Wednesday and Thursday night last week when “someone smashed six old headstones”- thought to be done with a “sledgehammer”.
Then in the early hours of Friday morning, another eight headstones on the north of the graveyard were “knocked down” followed by more damage on Friday night or Saturday morning on the south side.
One of the smashed gravestones was ‘tagged’ with the words “007 mad maj” and “love you”. While the historic church does have CCTV it did not capture any of the destruction in the churchyard.
It has since reported the incidents to the police and understands the force is looking at other cameras in the town centre.
A representative from the church, who asked not to be named, said: “The headstones are beyond saving. History was destroyed overnight. We are devastated, it is just mindless vandalism.”
The church is believed to have been founded in Saxon times and has had close links with the Archbishops of Canterbury, who had a palace in Croydon.
Ten bishops have been consecrated there and six Archbishops of Canterbury are buried in the Minster.
Rosemarie Mallett, bishop of Croydon, reacted to the news on Twitter, saying: “This is a dreadful sight. Vandalism that is sacrilegious and disrespectable to the families of those memorialised by whose gravestones and to the people of Croydon and Croydon Minster who care for these monuments.”
The Met said a report of criminal damage was filed on Friday and enquiries were ongoing. Officers have visited the church and spoken to staff to gather information.
Pictured top: Croydon Minster graveyard was vandalised over three nights (Picture: Stephen Perry)
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