10:53am Sunday 27th May 2007
By Andy Dickenson
A church has been "decimated" by squatters.
Police raided Ebenezer Baptist Church in Brighton following reports that a man living in the squat was dealing drugs to children.
When officers arrived at 8.30am they found 18 homeless people living in the chapel, sleeping in the baptism pit and drinking Sherry and Special Brew.
One man attempted to hide an eight inch hunting knife down the back of a sofa.
Police said within two weeks the squatters had destroyed the small, disused church in Richmond Parade.
Its vicar Tony Bickley had previously allowed a homeless couple to sleep there but things had got "out of hand", officers said.
Mr Bickley is currently in France and was unavailable for comment.
One neighbour, who didn't want to be named, said: "I knew that squatters had broken in and have heard they may have been involved in drugs.
"It's been going on over the last month or so but its not the first time it has happened."
The chapel is owned by the Grace Baptist Church who have recently applied for permission to knock it down and replace it with 49 flats, a new church and community hall.
Neighbours said squatters had also been seen at a former glassworks in nearby Sussex Place, due to be replaced by a five storey block of flats with 50 homes.
Police said they had received reports of antisocial behaviour, including fights and drug-taking at the church.
Inspector Laurence Taylor said: "We were in there two weeks ago and it was fine. In two weeks they have destroyed it.
"The original people living there had the permission of the vicar but its all gotten out of hand since then.
"It was an orderly little church with pews and a font. Now its been completely decimated.
"They were using the baptism pit for one of their beds. They were having a massive impact on the community."
The church spent £1,000 on Friday boarding up the church, its grounds now covered in litter.
But police said that after it had been boarded up people had again been seen sneaking back inside through an open window.
Insp Taylor said after the raid: "Some of them were drinking Sherry at 8.30 in the morning and there was evidence that drugs had been taken.
"One of the men was drinking Special Brew at the time.
"A man was arrested for a Public Order offence outside after he became extremely abusive and aggressive."
Neighbour Gabriel Cabeza said: "I've seen loads of people in there over the last few weeks. They've been playing on the balcony but they haven't been noisy."
The original Ebenezer Chapel was a Renaissance-style building opened in 1825 but it was knocked down in 1966 and rebuilt.
It has not been used in recent years because of the major repair works that are needed.
The application to replace it with a six storey building will be discussed by Brighton and Hove City Council before June 26.
Do you live in the area and have been affected by the squatters? Leave your comments below.
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