Republicans try to burn down Drumcree Parish Church
Drumcree rector hopes culprits will repent for causing church fire Holy Week is a time for peace and reconciliation, not setting fire to churches, the rector of Drumcree has said.
The Rev John Picketing was speaking after the weekend attack at Drumcree Parish Church when a bin was set on Ike and pushed against a hack door.
Thankfully a parishioner spotted the burning bin and was able to put the flames out.
Mr Pickering said he hoped the perpetrators would "see the evil of their activities and repent" and called on anyone with information to contact police.
"The attack on Drumcree church is an attack on the people of the parish," he said. "It also comes at a time when we are supposed to be entering a new era, a time when we are trying to leave the bad days behind.
"We should be looking forward to better days, not dealing with attacks on a church. I have no idea who is behind this attack but I hope the police, with the public's help, can catch the perpetrators."
Mr Pickering said Holy Week is one of the most important seven days in the church calendar and he hoped the Easter message of peace and reconciliation would be heard.
Peace
"This attack caused minimal damage but it still brought with it a lot of distress for everyone connected with Drumcree church," he said, "particularly as we enter Holy Week.
''This is a time when we think of the suffering and death of Christ and how that brought reconciliation between people and God. This week is also about reconciliation between people and I feel we should be moving closer to peace, not away from it.
"We need peace and stability for the good of everyone in this area and attacks like this don't help that. Drumcree church has been attacked before and I hope this will he the last time."
The attack happened at 10 o'clock on Sunday morning as some parishioners and children were arriving for Sunday school.
Police recovered a number of items from the scene and have appealed to the public for information.
Anyone who can help should contact Portadown police on 0845 600 8000 or call Crimes toppers on 0800 555 111.
Republicans put a bin against the back door of Drumcree Parish Church and tried to burn the oldest Protestant Church in Portadown down to the ground. Only for the quick action of the caretaker was the church saved from further damage. By trying to burn Drumcree Parish Church republicans where sending a message to all Protestants living in Portadown.
The republican message reads as follows - "We don't want a Prod about the place" As you can see republican bigotry is alive and kicking within bias bigots living in the Garvaghy road area.
The members of Portadown District have a message for the republican bigots living in the Garvaghy road area and it reads as follows "We are still here and we are not going to go away you know".
"Here we Stand - we can do no other"
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