The iconic Walthamstow Village church was robbed in two separate occasions on Saturday 25th November and Sunday 26th November, reports Marco Marcelline
St Mary’s in Walthamstow Village has estimated that “at least” £2,500 of damage has been done to the building following two break-ins over the last weekend in November.
According to a spokesperson for St Mary’s, the robbers set off with “very little”, though they made a “considerable amount of damage” to the building during the two break-ins on Saturday 25th November and Sunday 26th November.
Two doors in the church and a stained glass window were “seriously damaged”. The doors have been made “more secure” since the robbery, though the windows need to be replaced.
The spokesperson added that the church is set to enter the new year running a significant operating loss, as its costs are “well in excess” of the £250,000 per year needed to staff, heat, maintain and run the church building.
The majority of the church’s income comes from donations. While the church “expects” to use insurance to cover repair costs from the break-in, it is inviting visitors, supporters, and local residents to send a private donation to help them with their looming budget deficit.
Reverend Vanessa Conant, rector of St Mary’s Walthamstow and the Parish of Walthamstow said that alongside the break-ins, the church has been grappling with various antisocial behaviours on the church grounds such as “an increase” in drug dealing and drug taking and a rise in people who are experiencing mental health crises without support.
Rvd Conant said: “These recent burglaries, as well as some of the other antisocial behaviour we have encountered, are a reminder of the desperate situations that many in our community find themselves in, whether that be because of poverty, fear, substance abuse, poor mental health or some combination of all of these.”
Rvd Conant explained that the antisocial incidents has meant that St Mary’s has had to “carefully balance [its] commitment to welcoming all alongside [its] responsibility to keep others safe”. She added: “All people are welcome at St Mary’s, but not all behaviours are welcome.”
The church underwent a 12-month regeneration project through 2022, and was re-opened in December last year. Prior to the church’s regeneration it was not open most days, but it now welcomes visitors throughout the entire week. The church building also houses the independent Froth & Rind cafe and an exhibition space with a permanent history display about St Mary’s.
St Mary’s began its regeneration project after an architect’s report in 2015 indicated the church had to make urgent repairs to its building. The report prompted the church to look at how it could better serve the community around it. Earlier this year, the church’s £3.4million regeneration was specially recognised and nominated for a prestigious New London architecture award.
Anyone seeking to donate to St Mary’s Walthamstow can do so by visiting the church in person and using its tap-and-go donation points, or by visiting the website.
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