Police are investigating after a church building and over 40 graves were defaced in Leyland.

In a shocking act of vandalism that has reverberated through the community of Leyland, Lancashire Police have launched an investigation following extensive damage to St. James Church and more than 40 gravestones on Good Friday, one of the most significant dates in the Christian calendar. The vandalism included the disturbing graffiti, with phrases like 'God is a Lie' emblazoned on the church's exterior, as well as crude imagery on the gravestones. This included faces and graphic symbols, with particular outrage over the desecration of a grave belonging to an eighteen-month-old child. Local councillor Paul Wharton-Hardman expressed his disgust, labeling the act 'evil' and a 'deliberate attack on a place of faith, peace, and memory.' His strong language reflects the community's sentiments, emphasizing how such acts are not just acts of vandalism but deeply hurtful actions that attack the essence of mourning and remembrance in a sacred space. The incident has left many in the community shaken, especially with the church hosting a wedding in the immediate future. The South Ribble Borough Council has assured that they are looking into potential specialist cleaning to restore the sanctity of the space, underlining the emotional turmoil families might face while grappling with the loss of loved ones and now this added layer of trauma. Detective Sergeant Lee Jamieson of South CID reinforced the seriousness with which the police are treating this incident, declaring it a hate crime. The classification of this vandalism as a hate crime indicates a broader societal concern, where places of worship are increasingly targeted, potentially fueling a divisive atmosphere. The police are asking for community support in identifying those responsible, tapping into the collective responsibility shared among residents to protect their communal spaces. This incident highlights not only the act of vandalism itself but also points to a growing societal issue where spaces for faith and mourning are increasingly threatened. As headlines emerge and communities rally to protect their sacred spaces, it raises critical questions about respect, intolerance, and how we as a society respond to acts that seek to tear at the fabric of our collective values.