St Andrew the Apostle Church in Holt, Norfolk, has once again been targeted by vandals, prompting concerns about the future accessibility of the space. The church, known for offering a quiet refuge for reflection and prayer, was disrupted on Friday afternoon when teenage vandals toppled Christmas trees, floral arrangements, and a memory tree dedicated to departed loved ones.
Rev Canon Howard Stoker, the Rector of Holt with High Kelling, expressed dismay at the incident, calling it “awful” and highlighting a “lack of respect” for the sanctity of the space. “It’s awful to see at any time of the year, but particularly... the lack of respect they have for the space that they’re in and the things in that space,” he told the BBC.
The memory tree, donated by Lloyd Durham Funeral Services, held gift tags bearing the names of loved ones and had been a source of comfort to the community since early December. The destruction was especially hurtful to those who had used it to honour the memory of those they had lost.
Father Stoker said he was alerted to the vandalism when the group of teenagers rang the church bell around 15:45 GMT. Upon investigating, he found three large Christmas trees and a flower display overturned, along with boxes of pens, crayons, and scissors from the children’s corner strewn across the church.
Sadly, this was not the first time the church has experienced such anti-social behaviour. “We have tried to engage with them over the years—probably the last two years we’ve been having problems with them,” Father Stoker explained. “Then they bite the hand that feeds them... you try to give them some positive attention, and they turn it back on you.”
The church’s openness during the day has been a longstanding tradition, but this may now be at risk. Father Stoker revealed that he is considering keeping the church closed outside of service times if the vandalism continues. “It would be such a shame,” he said, acknowledging the potential loss to the community.