THE banner outside Trinity Baptist Church says "The Community For The Community".

But community spirit was the last thing on the minds of sick vandals who went on the rampage in the early hours of Monday morning (April 26).

The damage sustained by the Westminster Avenue church has left the congregation shocked and appalled.

"I cannot understand the mentality of the people who could do such a thing," said Pastor Mike Side.

When he raced to the church at 6.30am on Monday, after being alerted by fire services, he thought the blazing portacabin was the sole extent of the damage.

The cabin is used for Sunday School, the church's Galaxy Club for three to twelve-year-olds and for storage.

A fire was believed to have been deliberately started inside. It took fire crews from Bury and Whitefield three hours to deal with they were being called out at 5.45am.

Bury-based Station Officer Kevin Wilkinson said: "We used two hosereels and four breathing apparatus. We stopped the flames spreading from this unit. The cabin is linked by a connecting door to the main church."

Toys, tables and an assortment of other equipment inside the storage unit was destroyed, but this was only the tip of the iceberg.

The vandals are thought to have gained access into the main church by prising open two toilet windows.

A frenzy of destruction had taken place in the kitchen.

Drawers were ripped out, washing-up liquid was poured everywhere and spray cream was squirted around the floor and walls.

As if to underline their contempt for religion the intruders crammed piles of bibles in the sink and left the tap on.

Miraculously a further fire was prevented even though the vandals had turned on the grill of the cooker.

The orgy of devastation continued in the old vestry room.

Bookcases were upturned and torn from the wall, children's books were strewn everywhere and even their crisps and sweets had been stolen.

"Somehow they managed to unlock the safe and stole our communion silverware. A smaller safe was removed completely," said Mr Side.

Judging by the state of the main worship room the hooligans had the time to wreak havoc at leisure. The cross was torn from the wall, the lectern was smashed to splinters and a religious banner was flung to the floor.

Such was the fury that a wooden trolleywas broken in half and lay on opposite sides of the room.

"They stole a video recorder and have smashed our overhead projector," said Mr Side.

A keyboard was also smashed, chairs were hurled around and a plant was ripped from it pot and soil scattered on the seats.

"We had six microphones worth around £750 which we hid in a hollowed out section under the floor of the pulpit, but they even found and stole those, which makes me assume that they knew the church well."

But despite the extent of the damage Mr Side harbours no bitterness.

"As Jesus on the cross said: 'Father forgive them for they know not what they do'. That is the attitude that we have to take. These people need our help and our prayers, but most of all they need to find the Lord."

The church has suffered some minor vandalism in the past, but most of that was external.

"We'll obviously have to look at ways of improving security," he said. "But at the end of the day I suppose we will have to show forgiveness - that is our faith and our belief."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.