Youths attack church with wayward golf balls

A HISTORIC Lothian church has come under attack from an unlikely source – wayward golf balls.

A new game seems to have sprung up in the village of Rosewell that sees youths attempt to fire golf balls over the top of the B-listed St Matthew's Roman Catholic Church from nearby playing fields.

Far from being a bit of fun, however, the craze has left local priest, Canon Hugh White, picking up the pieces of broken windows and tiles.

He said he had recovered 17 golf balls in the grounds following the most recent attack, while on another occasion he collected 75 that had been struck at the church. He said the repeated attacks on the church – which has just undergone a £250,000 refurbishment – had left him "angry and distressed" and struggling to forgive those responsible.

Canon White, who has been at the church for 18 years, said: "This has been mindless vandalism which has gone on for a year now. It seems to be a thoughtless game to clear the roof with the balls but in the process they've smashed windows and broken tiles. The renovation work was only completed in July and now the scaffolding will have to go back up to repair the tiles.

"There are public fields behind the church where they gather to take turns hitting the balls. It's a very high roof and I think that is what attracts them.

"I'm obviously upset and I hope that they don't realise the damage they are doing. It would be much worse if they were aware of it. That would make it even more unacceptable."

Canon White last spotted a group of four teenage boys, aged between 16 and 18, firing balls at the church on Sunday, August 3. He shouted at them and they fled, but he was not able to identify them.

The renovation work involved restoring the church hall and cloister at the church and it was paid for by a combination of a Historic Scotland grant, loans and lottery awards. Churchgoers have also contributed to the refurbishment.

Canon White added: "The church is a vital part of the village and the hall is used by everyone from youth groups to old folks' dinners. It's a slap in the face for the community, who deserve better.

"They've got me over a barrel because I'm supposed to forgive and turn the other cheek, but it's very hard. We want to bring home to people that it's their neighbours lining up and targeting their property.

It's so discouraging and disheartening to think it is people from Rosewell who are doing this."

Sergeant Peter Jones said the police were investigating the vandal attacks. He added: "I am aware this is an ongoing problem in Rosewell and have asked community officer Rod Stewart to liaise with the informant and to look into the matter."