Offensive Graffiti Sprayed on Wales Church

Case information
Incident date
Country
United Kingdom
Place
Cardigan
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Private
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Vandalism (all)
  • Vandalism of Church
Place of Incident
  • Church
Bias Indicators
  • Comments/Written Statements/Gestures/Graffiti
  • Lack of Other Motive
  • Significance of Property/Structure/Location to religious community
  • Victim/Witness Perception
Reported to Police
  • Yes
Response of Local Authorities
  • Investigated
Image credit: Wikimedia. By Tanya Dedyukhina, CC BY 3.0

St Mary’s Church in Cardigan was targeted in an attack involving graffiti and forced entry, prompting a police investigation.

On November 5, 2025, unknown vandals broke into St Mary’s Church in Cardigan, Wales, damaged the bell tower, and sprayed offensive graffiti on the walls and window, according to Dyfed-Powys Police reports. Reverend Wyn Maskell described the incident as “extremely upsetting to us as a church” and announced that the church would remain closed during daytime hours while a forensic team examined the site for fingerprints.

Local councillors condemned the attack, with Deputy Mayor Elaine Evans stating, “How low can you go?” and County Councillor Clive Davies expressing hope that the perpetrators would be apprehended, referencing a similar incident at Eglwys y Grog, Mwnt, in 2022. The motive appears connected to hostility toward the church, and authorities urged anyone with information to assist the ongoing investigation.

Sources