Parishioners sleep in church to stop robbers

(Oxford Mail) - A congregation has been forced to spend nights sleeping in a church to defend it from thieves.

St Nicholas Orthodox Church, a Russian orthodox church in Marston, was targeted in raids on two consecutive nights, prompting the sleep-in.

A brass-plated steel cross from the church’s roof was stolen on Saturday, October 22, and then irreplaceable religious relics were taken the following night.

Members of the congregation were so alarmed that six of them spent the next five nights, from Monday to Friday, sleeping inside the church.

Their concern was justified on Tuesday, when thieves again attempted to access the building late at night.

Tikhon Vasilyed, 34, of Canterbury Road in Summertown, was one of those inside the building at the time of the raid.

He said: “At first I did not realise they were burglars – I just thought it might be some neighbours at the door.

“But when I saw quite an expensive car circling around the street, like a patrol, I realised they were probably robbers.

“They looked like a serious gang who would do it professionally, so I was worried.

“But when they noticed me at the window they immediately fled.”

Mr Vasilyed added: “The whole congregation and the community is very upset about what has happened. It was obvious that they were going to continue these thefts and so we had to defend our church.” Father Stephen Platt, rector at the church, said: “The whole church community is devastated at the loss of the stolen objects, many of which are irreplaceable.

“The cross and the dome it is sat on were a gift from a donor, who had it made especially for us in Russia, according to the traditional way. It was a one-off.” As well as the cross, thieves also stole relics from inside the church, including a Russia crucifix which was more than 300 years old.

Since the attack, the church, which has a congregation of about 70 people, has spent thousands of pounds on new security.

New locks, a burglar alarm, safe, taller security gates and security lights have all been installed.

Father Platt said: “It would be nice to live in a world that you could leave a church open in so people could come in an pray, and live in a world where you did not have to have so many security measure, but obviously that is not the case.”

Police officers are investigating whether the two attacks are linked. No one has yet been arrested.

Anyone with information should contact Pc Rachel Linzey via 08458 505505 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.