Staff arriving to work at a north London Catholic church were greeted Wednesday by hurtful graffiti spray painted across the building.
Inverted crosses, the numbers "666", the Star of David, and several unidentified "tags" were scrawled across several windows, doors, and the brick of St. Michael's Parish on Cheapside St.
Doug Manners, business administrator for the parish, says vandals have never targeted them before.
"I don't think the staff here consider this to be a hate crime. What it is is upsetting. It's upsetting to see these type of symbols on a church," says Manners. "To some people it may be harmless but to others it's offensive. Personally, I think it is most likely the work of youth in the neighbourhood who are attempting to be provocative by their choice of the symbols."
The graffiti was quickly cleaned off of the building thanks to staff and the generosity of a local business. The owner of Scotty's Shine Shop contacted the parish after hearing news of the graffiti and offered to help remove it.
"In speaking with Scotty, he expressed to me that something like this had happened to his business in the past and the fact that it was a member of the community, especially a church he just felt it should be addressed in a timely fashion," says Manners. "He contacted the parish Wednesday afternoon and offered his services. It's a real example of the sense of community and being there to assist where ever possible."
London police are investigating the incident and mentioned to staff the graffiti could be considered a hate crime.
