Church Desecrated

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 655, 6 May 1929, Page 11

Church Desecrated

Small Boys’ Wanton Damage

Amazing Affair at Penrose

CHAIRS thrown about the church, the altar stripped of its cloth and vessels, the cross removed, electric light bulbs smashed, and hymnals and papers strewn in all directions—St. George’s Anglican Church, Penrose, presented an amazing spectacle on Saturday morning. It looked as if the interior oi the building had been in the hands of a maniacal crowd of furniture-shifters. Those responsible for the desecration were two small boys, aged ten and eight respectively, scholars of the Sunday school.

'pORTUNATELY, the youDg vandals were interrupted in their work of destruction before much material damage could be done. Although the church was in great confusion, very little beyond the light bulbs was smashed, and the building was soon restored for the holding of the services yesterday. When caught and questioned about their actions, the boys would give no explanation. They had wrecked the church “for nothing.’’ It appears that the boys, who live between Penrose and Ellerslie, were wandering round Penrose, and, seeing the church open, went inside. This was between 11 a.m. and noon on Saturday. Once inside, they began to turn the church contents upside down. The building is a small wooden one. and has chairs in it instead of pews.

Although there were people passing by the church constantly, the boys made no attempt to carry out their work in silence. They made plenty of noise, and this attracted the attention of some children playing outside the church. Mr. Whiting, who lives

next door to the church, was told of the noise as he went by on his way to lunch.

He went inside in time to see the two boys trying to escape by way of one of the windows. He called them back, and they came to him willingly enough.

They were then questioned by Mr. Whiting and the Rev. W. Butler, who has charge of the church. To all questions, however, they would return no answer beyond that they did the damage “for nothing.” They are the sons of respectable parents, and have not been known to be in trouble before. They have attended the St. George’s Sundayl school for a short time, and the reason for their action is a psychological mystery, Certainly they did a lot of damage in a very short time, showing that they started at once on their destructive work.

A special meeting of the vestry of the church will be held on Wednesday evening to consider what will be done in the affair. The vicar of the parish is the Rev. Robert Stanton, of Ellerslie.