AN ABINGDON minister has condemned the criminals who stripped thousands of pounds worth of lead from his church roof.

Abingdon Baptist Church was targeted last week and became the latest town building to fall victim to thieves looking to make money from the metal.

David Fleming, minister of the Ock Street church, said: “All theft is disgraceful but when you are an organisation that exists to help people it is a bit of a slap in the face when your lead gets nicked.

“Leaving aside the fact that it is a church – a building people used to have respect for – it is a community building and part of the history and a landmark in Abingdon.”

Some 20-metres of metal was stripped from the roof between 3pm on Sunday, November 13 and 8am the following day.

Thieves ripped the lead – some of which has been there for 160 years – from the rear of the church and damaged a fence and tiles in the process.

Rev Fleming said the church had to clean up and file insurance claims, adding: “It is not particularly the stuff we want to be spending our week dealing with.”

In September lead thieves stole from schools and churches in the town.

Lead was stolen from Carswell Primary School, Abingdon School, Abingdon Town Council’s offices, Our Lady’s Abingdon, and St Peter’s Church in Drayton.

St Michael All Angels Church in Abingdon has also been targeted.

Rev Fleming said: “We understand times are hard and lead can be valuable and there is obviously a certain mindset of people that are going to be tempted to take from others.

“But the damage they do, not only to the building, but the work that goes on in it. I just wish they would think.”

He added: “There is a bit of you that wants to be angry but it is more frustrating that our society has got to this.”

About £6,000 worth of the metal was taken from All Saints’ Church in Didcot in December last year.

bwilkinson@oxfordmail.co.uk Anyone with information on last week’s theft from Abingdon Baptist Church should call PCSO Francesca Griffin on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.