Churches

My church is open every day, but that relies on the goodwill of the key holders to unlock and relock it.
We had three burglaries last year. One was a donation box which was broken into. They would have got very little as it is emptied regularly. We just thought they must have been desperate.
The other was when the building was locked and caused a bit of damage to the ancient door, and the theft of parts of the sound system. They then came back for more the next day.
We have now installed CCTV, replaced the sound system and made it more secure. The insurers say it is better to keep churches open as much as possible, but I can fully understand why so many are locked, disappointing though it is.

Annie, the insurers prefer that a church is unlocked.
If someone wants to get in and steal then they will do more damage to the building by breaking in. Also ,if the church is unlocked there is always the chance they will be disturbed.

Pamela, I have never seen a church which has been broken into, it would take a battering ram to break down the doors in the churches here, we are surrounded by village churches , roof stripped yes, but not one broken into, have seen seen the aftermath of a black Mass in a church which was unlocked and a film of an orgy in the sanctuary

Sorry forgot, our Cathedral isn’t locked untill after evensong but the Dean, two Minor Canons, Canon in residence and the Arch Deacon live in the Close, plus a coffee shop open seven days a week. The Church in the centre of town isn’t locked but the west of the Naive is rented out for a coffee shop.

Annie, read cabbies post.
I deal with the insurance for our church and so I know my information is correct.
Although a recent incident in the national newspapers did report that Norfolk was a hotbed of sex it seems to have missed this bit so we seem to have been spared the horrendous goings on in your part of the world.

Pamela, I can only speak for the churches I know. Nothing in my post spoke of a hot bed of sex only of the actions of some who choose to practice some form of evilness in a church, there are people who do follow the dark side.

Anniebach, regrettably churches get broken into far to often. Windows get broken, side doors get broken into and sometimes they come through the roof. And, of course, many churches have the lead from their roofs stolen, not to mention, sculptures and painted panelling. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/may/10/antique-dealer-plundered-churches-for-profit-jailed-christopher-cooper

Welcome Ormond
As others say, village churches sadly have to be locked most days, but churchyards usually have a bench, a peaceful place to sit for a while.

MOnica, again I can only speak of the churches in the area , your link didn’t say that man had broken into the church, unless I missed it.

He, may not have, but others have, windows and side doors are usually not difficult to breach, especially as they are often hidden and not visible from roads.

At one point brass memorials were being prised off walls for their scrap value.

Drug dealing was more likely in the churches I dealt with, than sex.

What matters is Ormand needed access to her church but it wasn’t possible.

I live in a small town in Surrey and our church ( one of several in the area) is always open in the day and does a mid week Eucharist service also. I attend regularly, when I moved it was a nice way to make new friends , I am involved in volunteering in the toddler group which uses one of the rooms, and am on the after church coffee rota and the readers list to read at the Sunday service. It is a peaceful space and nice to sit in so sorry the one you tried wasn't open , I think different churches have different policies. I'm glad you are feeling better and hope you can find an open church at another time.

Thankyou twiceasnice. I probably went on the wrong day but just needed a bit of away time on that particular day?so perhaps if I need to do it again I may be lucky then. It’s a lovely village church and it’s run by very nice people x luckily I feel much brighter at the moment so......

Do you have a library you can go to?

I find sitting in a quiet Church comforting and feel sad that our Churches are usually locked. Ours was broken into a couple of years ago - via the roof. There was damage to the Organ which is famous. because it was played by well known 18th century composer so fund raising took place for all the repairs.
I haven't been to a service for a while. I miss it but somehow Sundays are always full of family - something for which I'm grateful.
As an aside - I love the words and the music