A Welsh community has reacted with outrage after a number of headstones were vandalised and ripped out of the ground at a church graveyard.
The incident happened at St Lleian’s Church in Gorslas, a village a mile away from Cross Hands in Carmarthenshire, on Friday night. Four headstones were found lying flat on the grass in the grounds of the church, a scene the parish said was very distressing for the four affected families. It is unclear who or how many people were involved in damaging the headstones, as there is no CCTV installed which covers the church grounds.
Reverend Delyth Wilson has spoken of the shock within the community at such a wicked act of vandalism, and said she hoped the incident was an isolated one.
“It’s an immaculately kept graveyard where all the graves are regularly checked, so we believe this happened on Friday night because people noticed when they started to arrive on Saturday to place flowers on loved ones’ graves. We believe someone did it maybe out of boredom, or just because they wanted to cause mischief,” she said.
Reverend Wilson said that newer headstones must be fitted with stainless steel rods to keep them securely in place. This was not the case with the four damaged in St Lleian’s Church, as they were older, but any notion that they could have been simply pushed or kicked over in an easy or quick fashion has been dismissed.
“Someone would have to force them over and spend a bit of time doing it - they were not headstones that you could just kick over,” she added.
As well as the damage caused to the four headstones, flowers were also picked from graves and thrown around the site, which is currently in the process of being cleaned up. However, repairing the damage to the headstones themselves will not be such an easy task, and is expected to cost around £500. As that cost falls on the relatives of those affected rather than the church itself, the church has set up a Just Giving page in an attempt to fund the repairs needed.
The outrage at the incident has been apparent within the local community, with many taking to social media to express their shock and disgust that anyone could commit such an offence.
One person called it a “senseless” act which showed “a total lack of respect for sacred places”, while another referred to it as “shocking behaviour”. One woman said she had sympathy for the families involved and that she had “no words for the idiots who have nothing better to do with their time and energy.”
Another poster simply said it was “beyond appalling”.
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It is the first time such an act has happened at St Lleian’s, but the church has implored the public to be vigilant and to report any further vandalism if they should spot it while walking or paying respects to their loved ones. The level of indignation following the incident has been welcomed by the church, with Reverend Wilson taking heart from the outpouring of those within the community.
“I have been amazed at the response on social media; it’s been incredible and people are outraged. I just wonder what is happening? I haven’t known anything like this to happen before at any church I have been involved in during 10 years in ministry and even longer as a church member. Why would anyone do this? I think the community is very disappointed that this has happened and it’s shook them up a bit that it could happen here,” she said.
The vandalism was reported to police shortly after it was discovered and the force has confirmed it is investigating the incident.
A spokesman for Dyfed-Powys Police said: "We have received a report of gravestones being damaged at St Lleian's Church, Gorslas, sometime on Friday, April 16, or before 2.30pm on Saturday, April 17. Anyone who has information is asked to contact police quoting reference DP-20210417-159. This can be done online, by emailing 101@dyfed-powys.pnn.police.uk, or by calling 101."
