Malton police are appealing for information following an arson attack at St Peter’s church in Wintringham.
At some point between 3.00pm and 8pm on Wednesday 21 August 2013, the offender went into the church and set fire to a kneeler cushion and a Jacobean pew.
The suspect also wrote swear words in the visitor book and defecated in the vestry.
Two small fires were also lit outside in the church grounds.
PC Katie Shaw of Malton Safer Neighbourhood Team, said:
The church is in a rural and isolated location but is open to members of the public to enjoy.
This incident is a particularly abhorrent and disgraceful attack on a building which has stood for hundreds of years. It is beyond belief why anyone would do such a thing and what they stood to gain from it.
I am looking to members of the public to help us find out who was responsible and am appealing for anyone who saw any suspicious or unusual activity in the area, either in the village or the roads leading to the church to contact us.
Don’t worry if you think it’s insignificant, just a small piece of information could help us piece together information which could lead us to whoever is responsible.
Anyone with any information is asked to call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Malton Police. Or you can email Katie.shaw@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk
If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
