Christ Church in Derry was found with multiple broken windows, including a stained glass window. Vases of flowers were knocked over, a decanter used for communion was stolen, and faeces were found smeared on the pages of a psalm book.
The parish's rector said the worst of the damage was inflicted upon the church's organ: "They climbed in behind the organ and used broken glass - probably from the bottles of altar wine which they had smashed - to cut parts of the mechanism which makes the organ work. Our church organist was heartbroken when he saw the extent of the damage," he said.
The break-in was discovered by a parishioner who called to the church late on Tuesday, September 12. Police have investigated but have not found the perpetrators.