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Some 567 crimes have been recorded at churches and places of worship across Sussex over two years. The figures were obtained by the Countryside Alliance as part of its ongoing call to focus attention on rural churches and increase funding for security at places of worship. The latest 2022-2024 records from Sussex Police reveal 145 reported thefts.
Of these, 12 thefts were related to lead. 100 of the thefts took place in churches or religious buildings, 23 took place in churchyards, and 17 in cemeteries. There were also 257 reported cases of criminal damage, and 165 reported cases of violence.
There were 10 reported cases of arson in churches and religious buildings, with another three occurring in churchyards. The total number of crimes puts Sussex in the top ten worst-affected areas in the country. Shocking cases of church crimes have been reported by the media over the past few years, but these only illustrate a tiny section of the widespread church crime problem.
Read more: Teenage girl sexually assaulted in Steyning church grounds In 2023, a set of valuable organ pipes were stolen from Grade I listed St John The Divine Church in Patching. The theft caused significant damage, and the cost of replacements and repairs was estimated to be in the thousands. Last year, vandals struck St Nicolas in Shoreham for the third time in five years, smashing a Victorian window and causing £2,000 damage.
The Grade I listed building also had windows smashed by “hooligans” in 2020 and 2021. Last month, a man was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and kidnapping in the grounds of St Andrew and St Cuthman Church in Steyning. The month before, significant religious items were stolen from St Mary’s Church in East Grinstead.
The items included their “big six” candlesticks and Churchwarden staffs. Mo Metcalf-Fisher, director of external affairs at the Countryside Alliance said: “These figures bring into stark relief the devastating fact that many churches and places of worship are being treated as easy targets by criminals. “These are supposed to be places of refuge and tranquillity, where people go to worship or seek solace - but all too often they are being subjected to heinous crimes, either in or on their property.
“It is particularly saddening to see that Sussex is the one of the worst-affected regions in the entire country. “We cannot allow these precious places, which are often the centre of villages and towns across the country, to go unguarded and be so exposed. “Easy access to protective funding schemes is of the greatest importance, but it is just as vital that members of the public keep an ever-watchful eye on churches and report suspicious behaviour to police.
“It is also our hope that there will be further progress on the development of a new aggravated offense relating to the loss or damage of heritage assets, a move some Parliamentarians have already supported. “Irrespective of faith or none, churches are more than just community buildings, they are often part of our centuries-old history and heritage. They must be protected”.
