Vandalism at St. Mary’s is Estimated to Cost the Campbellford Church Community $17,300

EXCLUSIVE - First Published Sept. 21

Northumberland OPP investigating

UPDATE SEPT. 27 - from Father Pilon

In response to an inquiry to Trent Hills Now we contacted Father Pilon regarding the results of the insurance claim for the windows that were damaged by vandals and he stated in a telephone message that the damages are covered and the church will be required to pay $2,500 deductible.

UPDATE SEPT. 25 OPP:

The OPP Central Region Forensic Identification Unit is assisting with this ongoing investigation. Police are asking anyone with information regarding this crime to contact the Northumberland OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may contact the Peterborough/Northumberland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS). You can also submit information online at www.p3tips.com. Being anonymous, you will not be required to testify in court and information you provide may lead to a cash reward of up to $2,000

Article by Sue Dickens

Campbellford – Sept. 21 - Vandal(s) have caused substantial damage to windows which are part of the ongoing reconstruction and restoration of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church.

Fr. Jean-Pierre Pilon, who lives in the rectory next door called Trent Hills Now today, Friday, Sept. 21, in the hopes than an article might help, by asking for the public’s assistance, find the culprit(s).

The damage was discovered this morning when workers with the renovation company, Roof Tile Management of Mississauga, began their work day.

“The vandals damaged the big round windows on the south tower,” said Father Pilon, with dismay.

“It happened last night, sometime during the night of Thurs., Sept. 20 and the morning of Friday, Sept. 21 ,” he explained.

He estimates the final cost, as a result of the damage, to be $17,300.

“This had to be desired and calculated because they had to go into the base, climb above the eight-foot barriers all the way to the top of the scaffolding to break the windows,” he told Trent Hills Now.

“The head of the crew has to take the whole day off and go back to Toronto with templates to have the glass ordered and the windows recut. It will be next week before they can get the whole thing back up,” he added.

The church suffered minor damage in the past when people broke into the north tower which has been restored and stole tools from SkyHigh Restorations which was doing the work at the time.

This project began a few years ago and undraising continues to pay for the restoration.

The church has about 120 parishioners.

Thanks to a loan from the Diocese of Peterborough the $3 million restoration project is continuing and the work on the the north tower and putting the 1898 bell back has been completed.

Father Pilon contacted the Northumberland OPP this morning has also called the insurance company to report the damage.

Officers were at the scene today to begin their investigation.

Trent Hills Now contacted the media relations officer with the OPP for information, but “the event has not been cleared yet by the investigation officer therefore no report has been submitted.”

A media release will be provided in the future.

In the meantime all that Father Pilon and his parishioners can do is pray the restoration continues without further incidents like this.

History:

The original church built in 1862-1864 burned to the ground in 1899 and the following year a new church was erected. The first renovations to St. Mary’s Church, Campbellford, were done in 1985 followed by a lot of “patchwork” over the past seven years.