Atheists desecrate country church

[peasporridge]

The perpetrators drew vulgar graffiti on the wall of the church an also wrote "God is a lie".
They also desecrated about 40 gravestones.

This is particularly distressing because a wedding is scheduled today (Easter Saturday)

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/sickening-blasphemous-cowardly-church-gravestones-140717226.html

https://www.blogpreston.co.uk/2025/04/police-investigating-after-st-james-church-and-over-40-graves-defaced-ahead-of-good-friday/

This clearly demonstrates that Christianity is under threat.from the secular lobby.

It is Ireland in English.
Éire in Irish.

both are correct.

HTH

Perhaps this will further help anyone who wishes to educate herself on this subject.

“The constitutional name of Ireland is Éire, or Ireland in English, as defined in the 1937 Constitution of Ireland. The official description of the state, as per the Republic of Ireland Act 1948, is "the Republic of Ireland," but this is a description, not the constitutional name.”

@peasporridge
@pointythings

HTH.

There was a similar thing which happened to us in Buncton near Chanctonbury in Sussex.
I had a pagan handfasting In Chanctonbury village hall. It was a truly lovely and special day.
Our photo was in the County Times along with other weddings and as revenge a bunch of fundamental christians took a hammer to the ancient Sheela na Gig on the interior of the church. This one one of an extremely rare and ancient Goddess carvings one of only a few left in the country. Archaeologists were distraught as it was an extremely rare and priceless example. They admitted doing this and said they didn't want pagan statuary in their church if it encouraged people like us.

https://heritageaction.wordpress.com/2010/02/04/recalling-the-sad-case-of-the-destruction-of-an-extremely-rare-sheela-na-gig/

Absolutely tragic. I felt such terrible guilt that they did it because of us.

And do you refer, when speaking English, to going to Deutschland for the weekend, or nipping over to Italia for the pope’s funeral.

Let me try to be polite here. English people using ‘Éire’ is not usually about cultural accuracy.

The idea that “the Protestants” might have done it is ridiculous and quite scandalous to my ears, as an Irishwoman.

As is the notion that the border is too far away (Donegal is a border county) as if gangs of Protestants were ignoring the vast numbers of Catholic Churches in NI to get to a church in Gweedore (50 miles from Derry, NI) in order to burn it. It’s nonsense.

@PowderMonkeys
The question was raised about a factual matter - the name of a particular country. I provided clarification, as it was evidently badly needed.

The name of the country is Éire or Ireland. Both are correct. Personally I’m happy for English speakers to honour the Irish language by referring to my country by its Irish name, but I won’t fall out with anyone who doesn’t do so either.

HTH

Then I’d suggest you pay attention to who says ‘Éire’ and what it’s connotations are. Let me give you a big hint — they’re not ‘honouring’ the Irish language.

Unfortunately Im not a mind reader and don’t presume to know why @peasporridge chose to say Éire instead of Ireland.

Nor do I presume to know her nationality.

Neither of these are of any interest to me, but perhaps she will clarify, if it’s important to you? 🤷🏼‍♀️

Oh that is so so sad. And utterly ridiculous given the vast majority of Christianity is based on pagan traditions anyway, from ancient Mesopotamian religion, Celtic festivals to Greek philosophy.

Obviously there is a historic precedence in the UK of Catholic Churches having their iconography destroyed by Protestants.

I suspect this was likely teenagers, who probably got led on by anti Christian/Trump sentiment/ 3 min woke philosophy on tik tok

Yes.

However, ‘Republic of Ireland’ isn’t the official name (even if it’s often used). That was the point I was making to pp.

Also, the OP didn’t say Éire. She said Eire. No fada gives a different meaning.
And she wasn’t writing in Irish.

but...your ceremony was in the village hall not the church? so why attack something in the church?

these crazy christians!

Not going to disagree with any of this.

I’m aware of the significance of the missing fada, but I’m not sure that OP was intentionally leaving it out, probably just doesn’t have it on her device.

Again, only she can say what she meant.

This link explains it pretty well:
https://irishempire.org/news/news-politics/what-is-the-correct-name-for-ireland/8

In a nutshell: British governments in the past have refused to refer to Ireland as Ireland (in English) because it doesn't encompass the entire island. Essentially a refusal to recognise a sovereign state and call it by its proper name in the English language. That is still culturally sensitive, so calling it 'Eire' is discourteous.

So what us the problem then? She prayed in public, was arrested under a specific law relating to time/place of blocking clinic access, and win her case? So why did you falsely assert that it was illegal for all Christians to pray in public?

quoted from the above article, written by Colin Carroll.

”Taoiseach of the day, John Costello, explained our position:
‘If I say that my name is Costello and that my description is that of senior counsel, I think that will be clear to anybody who wants to know...Its name in Irish is Éire and in the English language Ireland. Its description in the English language is the Republic of Ireland.’ “

The writer describes as “British bully” tactics the using of the names “Irish Republic” and “Republic of Ireland” throughout several decades. He celebrates the breakthrough of the Good Friday Agreement, when despite opposition the name of the state is accepted by the British as simply “Ireland”.

Later in the article the writer states “FIFA offends Ireland” and goes on to describe in detail how FIFA offended Ireland. Was it by saying “Éire” or even “Eire” instead of “Republic of Ireland”?

No, it was by using the name “Republic of Ireland” since 1953 for Ireland’s national team instead of simply “Ireland”.

The writer states
“Is FIFA’s position acceptable? Should we petition FIFA to revert to using our correct name, Ireland? ”

and ends this section with a question -

“And who are they to tell us who we are?”

his conclusion reads-
“I’m judging my book by its cover. My passport says, Éire and Ireland. Although it’s a republic, it’s not the Republic of Ireland. I’m from Éire or Ireland.”

I don’t see how this article helps @pointythings in her demand that Ireland should be referred to as “the Republic of Ireland” when it is arguing for the exact opposite. 🤔

typo

The police now have someone in custody on suspicion of causing the damage to the church 👍

The vandalism is sad, but not part of a trend. I think Christianity is more under threat by lack of engagement from the younger generation!

We were also banned from using the village hall again. Clearly pagans are not wanted there.

Apparently it's getting popular with Gen Z,

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/church-christianity-gen-z-young-people-faith-god-easter-b2734957.html

I saw that and was thinking, not in my area.. Perhaps it is happening in areas where there are more Christians from overseas.

Yes. A standard state school in Lancashire.

It’s standard in state schools across the UK. . Why the surprise?

Assembly every morning and Easter and Christmas plays, etc.

Careful! I got deleted for basically saying the same thing!

I don't see why?

Religious Education (RE) is a compulsory subject in state-funded schools in England, and parents can choose to withdraw their children from the lessons. Schools, including faith schools, academies, and independent schools, can structure their RE curriculum in different ways, with faith schools often having a religious character and academies following locally agreed syllabuses. The specific content of RE is determined by the local agreed syllabus, which must reflect the religious traditions in Great Britain while also considering other principal religions

( My italics )

The amount of Christianity as truth in schools varies hugely across the country. Christianity is, however, enshrined in legislation. Most schools do what my children’s schools did-in Primary they said something life affirming then put Amen on the end to tick the box. And in secondary, most of the compulsory RE lessons were philosophy and ethics and a bit of comparative religion. Incidentally, Christians often use “well, you can opt out” without considering that this can mean a child having to miss assembly, and therefore a significant element of the school day. In a state funded non denominational school.

Have they? That’s good. I can’t find a report anywhere……

It was the local Councillor for the area on local social media. I noticed he was careful to say ‘custody’ instead of ‘arrested on suspicion of’, so I hope they have the right person and they can proceed with charging them.