Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Church under siege
Vandal attacks cause damage worth thousands
Parishioners at New Monkland Church in Glenmavis have been left counting the cost of repairing a dozen windows smashed in three incidents over as many weeks.
Twelve windows have been broken over the recent period, most recently four large panes and two small ones being smashed just over a week ago.
Kirk session member John Paterson, who looks after the property, told the Advertiser: “We think it’s people throwing stones in the graveyard beside the church.
“We’re not very happy as it’s costing us a fortune and is running into the thousands – and the insurance doesn’t pay for the preventative measures so we’ll have to dig deep into our pockets.
“They require a cherrypicker to get up and fix as the windows are at some height.
“They’re being replaced with polycarbonate and the other windows are being covered with protective plastic film.”
A glazier repaired the damaged windows on Friday, a week after the most recent incident.
John added: “People in the congregation are sickened that anybody would do this. What do they get out of it? Absolutely nothing.
“We’d had no problems before now but over the past few weeks we’ve had several windows broken.
“We’ve gone inside to find glass all over the pews and have had to clean it all out before the next service.
“It will be just over £ 3000 for the whole lot of repairs and protective sheeting. It’s a big cost but hopefully worth it in the end.”
We’re not very happy as it’s costing us a fortune and is running into the thousands