Outrage after vandals destroy gravestones at Polish church in Bedford
Mindless vandals have attacked and desecrated a number of gravestones at the Polish church in Mill Street, Bedford.
It’s believed the gravestones, including a memorial to former Bedford mayor Peregrine Nash, were smashed and broken on Sunday evening.
Church members said they were “very sad to report that three gravestones had been maliciously vandalised at the Polish Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus & St Cuthbert”.
The Roman Catholic Church is a Grade II listed building, serving the Polish community in Bedford.
Gina Marszalek, said: “It is very upsetting to see the graves tampered with. We believe it happened sometime on Sunday evening and could not have gone unnoticed due to the required force to break the gravestones.
"As a community we are deeply saddened and outraged that a sacred place where remains are laid to rest could incite such acts of mindless vandalism.
“There were three gravestones vandalised. In particular the memorial of Peregrine Nash buried in 1834 would have taken some force to destroy. Peregrine Nash was Mayor of Bedford in 1807.
“We will try to restore the graves as best we can and hope this never happens again.
“If anyone can help with information on who may have been responsible, please come forward.”
A spokesperson for Beds Police, added: “We were called at around 10.20pm on Monday (28 July) to a report of damage to graves and gravestones in the grounds of a church in Mill Street, Bedford.
“Anyone with information can contact us online quoting reference 40/43926/25.”