A Norfolk charity which cares for redundant churches has been taken aback as offers of support from around the world have come in to help repair a stained glass window.
The windows at St Peter’s Church in Dunton were vandalised on August 14 by a child, who police said was below the age of criminal responsibility, which is 10.
They added: “Officers have met with the parents of the child who have offered to help pay towards the cost of repair.”
The church is cared for by Norfolk Churches Trust, which looks after churches across the region.
Scilla Latham from the trust said that the church had received offers of donations from across the world.
She had heard from the owner of the property which the family were staying at, who said they were giving their security deposit to the church.
“We have been contacted by a woman from the States who was born and brought up in Dereham who wanted to donate,” she said.
“We had a priest from Derbyshire ring up and say he would offer fundraising in his parish. It’s completely unexpected, and it’s like I say: every cloud has a silver lining.”
She called Terry Devlin, a director of Devlin Plummer Stained Glass, who boarded up the window.
“It was heart-wrenching, to go inside and see the glass all over the floor, it was just awful,” he said.
“I said to them in my 30-year career it was the worst mindless vandalism I had ever seen.”
Mr Devlin said that 75pc of the window had been destroyed by stones, flint and sticks.
He estimated the damage to be around £30,000 to repair.
Robin Stapleford, rector of the Upper Wensum group, said that despite the damage they were carrying on, with a service being held there recently with the window boarded up.
Mr Stapleford said: “I’m well aware that 99.9pc who visit a church love it and respect it.
“To think some people don’t see that, it’s upsetting.”
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