From Desecration to Reconsecration

Written by Eileen

The phone rang at about 9pm on Friday 27th December 2019; it was Fr John to say that there had been a break in at the church as reported to them by a passer-by. Clive and I went straight there to find that entry had been gained through the Priests’ Sacristy window and then into the church itself.

The scene that met us included considerable damage to the Tabernacle and its marble surrounds made by a fire extinguisher. The most upsetting sight was the consecrated hosts scattered amongst the debris: worthless to the vandals but priceless to us.

The police were called and plans made for a forensic examination the next day.

Some keys had been stolen but nothing else so Clive made the window secure before getting home at around midnight.

The next morning, as Fr Tom was away, I contacted Fr Anthony Gatt as pro tem Dean and he came to undertake the correct disposal of the consecrated hosts and arranged for one of his parishioners who was a locksmith to fit additional locks to secure the church. Forensics came but that was the last we heard from them.

There followed a busy period of obtaining quotations for the various repairs needed for the Tabernacle doors, the marble work, and lock changing. This sounds quite easy when written down – it wasn’t!

We were fortunate to have the Tabernacle on the Lady Altar although no-one could have anticipated that we would need to use it for such a long period of time.

This was because COVID 19 now entered all our lives and delayed not only the work but also the opportunity to arrange for Bishop Philip to come and reconsecrate the Tabernacle. This finally happened at a special Mass on Monday 10 May 2021.

I believe that no-one was more relieved than I that the work was now completed and our church returned to its proper state.