HEARTLESS thieves who broke into a Buxton church have been slammed for creating an atmosphere of fear.
The thieves broke into St Peter's Church, Fairfield, sometime between midday on Tuesday and around 7.30am on Wednesday.
The offenders gained entry to the church by destroying an important and unusual Victorian window before ransacking the church a
nd letting off a fire extinguisher. The contents of drawers and cupboards were strewn around the church and the culprits made off with several bottles of communion wine.
The Revd Carl Edwards, Vicar of Fairfield, said: "It is fortunate that St Peter's like any other church ensures that any items of possible value are kept completely secure and inaccessible.
"The issue, though, is the intrusion and damage to a place of worship that holds such an important role in the lives of those who live within the Fairfield community and further afield.
"Criminal acts such as this one reap little if any reward for the perpetrators and generate an atmosphere of fear and anxiety. It is a sad reflection on society that even places of worship become targets for socially dysfunctional delinquents who think that there are benefits in causing distress to others."
He added that the church will continue to worship as normal, despite the break-in, and the open day planned for 10am-4pm Saturday, September 26 will continue.
Anyone with any information about the crime is asked to contact Derbyshire Police on 0345 123 3333.
