Cruel thieves steal thousands of pounds of lead from church roof

Jan 13 2011 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

CHURCH-GOERS this week slammed the thieves who stole thousands of pounds worth of lead from a church roof in Ashgill.

Now police are hunting the raiders who nicked the large quantity of lead from Rorison Memorial Church in Ashgillhead Road.

It is the third time since October thieves have targeted the building, which belongs to the congregation of Dalserf Church.

In this latest incident, the vandals stripped almost all the lead from the roof.

Church officials have been left with a mopping up operation as water is leaking from the roof into the building which is undergoing a £200,000 renovation, the final stages of which are still in progress.

The minister, the Rev. Cameron McPherson, said: “The culprits have evidently little or no conscience, caring only about the few pounds they will get for the lead with no thought for the thousands of pounds of damage externally and internally – not to mention the adverse impact on our work with young folk.

“We hope If anyone saw or knows anything that might lead to the arrest of the culprits they will contact the police.”

The premises belong to the small congregation of Dalserf Parish Church of Scotland.

Anne McHolm, church officer, said: “They shouldn’t desecrate a church building. They have no respect for anything. How could they do that to God’s house?”

Kay Blair said: “It is unbelievable people could do that to a church roof. “It is very cruel and everyone is upset it has happened.”

Anyone with information on the incident should contact Larkhall Police Office on 202300, or alternatively call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, where calls are free and anonymity can be maintained.