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'Church break-in has ruined my faith in people'

Stuart Woodward/BBC Broken black and white keys in a wooden church organStuart Woodward/BBC
The organ was destroyed during the break-in, which happened after the Sunday morning service

A church warden has said her faith in people has been "ruined" after the building was damaged by vandals, for the second time in a month.

The organ was smashed up during the break-in at St Margaret's Church in Bowers Gifford, near Basildon, at about 13:10 GMT on Sunday.

Two boys, aged 15 and 16, were arrested on suspicion of burglary and criminal damage.

The pair were released on bail while inquiries continued, Essex Police said.

Stuart Woodward/BBC Woman with hair tied back wears a pink t-shirt. She stands in front of a broken and smashed church organ. She looks sad.Stuart Woodward/BBC
Nikki Dilorenzo says she has felt a sense of despair after a second break-in at the church

Nikki Dilorenzo has been church warden for almost a year and a long-standing member of the congregation.

The 43-year-old said there were "tears, anger and frustration" at the discovery of a broken stained glass window, smashed vases and a broken lectern.

The worst part was finding the organ "just destroyed", she added.

"There was stonework thrown at it. The pipes have been removed. We've still not located those and the altar has just been vandalised," she said.

"Every footstep you make you're just walking on broken glass.

"It's just soul-destroying. To see this damage, it has ruined my faith, my faith in people, and children, and that's upsetting.

"We don't want to feel like this, we want to forgive them, but that will be difficult."

Stuart Woodward/BBC Woman with glasses wears a warm padded green jacket and stands outside a church. You can see the church tower behind her.Stuart Woodward/BBC
Jeanette Mudd said it was "terrible" to see a piece of musical history destroyed

Jeanette Mudd, a member of the congregation for 17 years, said local children had helped with the clean-up and people who had already raised funds following the first break-in.

"Our congregation isn't the largest but still, the church is the centre of this community," said the 70-year-old, who is also secretary to the parochial church council.

Ms Mudd said the clear-up would take time as the place was "full of hazards" with shards of glass embedded in pews, so would need deep-cleaning.

She described the destruction of the organ as akin to "destroying music".

"Music is one of the finer things in life and it's terrible to see that and to see any piece of history destroyed."

Stuart Woodward/BBC Three elderly woman with brooms sweeping the interior church floor and between pews.Stuart Woodward/BBC
Local people and children have already responded to the break-in

The Anglican church dates back to 1450.

The break-in occurred a couple of hours after the Sunday morning service.

Essex Police said items believed to be stolen from the church had been located and some £15,000 of damage was caused during the break-in.

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