VANDALS have caused thousands of pounds of damage by hurling a rock through a stained glass window at a historic church.

A dozen people were working inside St Nicolas ‘Church in Shoreham when its millennium stained glass window was shattered by a stone.

The rock also caused damage to a pew, but no one was injured.

The incident took place last Monday afternoon and the restoration costs to the Grade I listed building are expected to fall into the thousands.

St Nicolas’s stained glass window was installed in 2000 to mark turn of the millennium.

It was designed by local stained glass artist Sue Wallis, who died on December 8, 2011.

 

Reverend James Grant, Rector at St Nicolas’ Church said the event had been distressing for members of the church and the community.

He told The Argus: “It’s been quite traumatic the last few days.

“It’s one of those things where people have a memory of it being installed, and Sue sadly passed away nine years ago now.

“People have been very upset that this vandalism has happened.

“One fails to understand what draw you can have to destroying something like that without a consideration to the pain that causes to other people.”

The vandalism, however, has not occurred in isolation.

Another of the church’s windows was destroyed on October 31.

Reverend James has now organised a Crowdfunder campaign on the internet to cover the cost of the repairs.

He said: “A lot of people in Shoreham know the artist and know the church.

“They love the work that Sue Wallis did.

“And they love what the church does for the winder community.

“It’s one of the things that is a silver lining because once an act like that happens, the community pulls together and it’s been really quite amazing.”

To donate to the Crowdfunder visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/millenniumwindow

READ MORE: Sussex had highest number of church crimes outside London in past year

Sussex Police said they have been saddened by the damage.

Rural PCSO Erica Baxter said: “The Rural Crime Team are aware of these criminal damage incidents and find it sad that St Nicholas Church, a Heritage building, has been damaged in this way.

“We and our neighbourhood policing team colleagues will continue to include the area as part of our regular patrols.

“We would encourage anyone with information to call Sussex Police on 101, quoting reference 0631 of 30/11.”