A 143-year-old church in Sheerness, England, has been forced to move its Sunday services to a nearby cafe due to ongoing vandalism by youths using catapults to fire ball bearings through its windows. The congregation of the joint United Reformed and Methodist church has been gathering in the Lighthouse Café for safety reasons, as glass fragments have been continually showering down onto worshippers.

Minister Lynne Le Masonry stated that the vandalism has been occurring since February. "Every day we go in and find new shards of glass all over the place, over the chairs, on the carpets and on the communion table," Le Masonry said. "We have had to come out of the church and into the coffee shop. But the congregation doesn't like it. It's not right and it's not comfortable."

The church is now considering installing "bulletproof" glass in the roof lantern, an addition made in 2006, which the insurance company has agreed to negotiate as a safe alternative, though it is expected to cost thousands of pounds. In the interim, windows are being boarded up for safety.

Sunday services at the joint United Reformed and Methodist church were put on hold amid concerns glass was 'continually showering down onto people'

Le Masonry expressed frustration, stating, "I don't think I'm allowed to say. It is sad they cannot find anything better to do than kill wildlife. It makes me extremely angry. I just wish there was some way we could stop this behaviour. It needs to be stopped, and it needs to be stopped now... It's not right."

The United Reformed and Methodist Church (pictured) has been forced to move its service to a nearby cafe because of youths catapulting objects at piegons through the windows

Police have been informed of the incidents. Neighbourhood police officer PC Alison Honess told Sheerness Town Council that all catapult incidents are being made a priority. "This is a nationwide issue and not isolated to Sheerness. But the view of the police is the same - it will not be tolerated," Honess said.

Neighbourhood police officer PC Alison Honess told Sheerness Town Council officers were making all catapult incidents a 'priority'. The interior of the church is pictured

While it is not currently illegal to possess a catapult in public, weapons will be confiscated if found without a lawful excuse. Police are increasing their presence in the area and urge the public to report any incidents via 999 for emergencies, 101, or the Kent Police website's live chat function. Police noted that increased reporting has led to a reduction in damage incidents, though not all. Residents can expect to see more police patrols.