Copper thieves have targeted two of Waikato’s historic churches.
The raids on St Paul’s in Rangiaowhia Rd, Hairini, and on St John’s in Te Awamutu’s Arawata St have prompted church staff to start sleeping over.
St Pauls dates back to 1852 and the St John site includes Old St John’s which opened in 1854.
St John’s Anglican Church parish priest Julie Guest said staff began sleeping in the church and security systems were installed after a series of incidents beginning with the burning of a car parked in front of the church on George St early last month.
“As St John’s is a concrete structure, the building suffered only scorch marks, but the wreck was visited nightly by those seeking to further loot and destroy the remains.
Shortly after that, a copper downpipe was stolen from St John’s,” Guest said.
The church stands alongside Waikato’s oldest surviving building the Category 1 St John’s Church.
St John’s Anglican Church parish priest Archdeacon the Rev Julie Guest is struggling to feel the Christmas spirit with the vandalism of church buildings and theft.
“A couple of days later St Paul’s, our historic church in Rangiaowhia Road, Hairini, was violated when the spouting along one side was ripped off, causing damage to the remaining roof. Two days after that the thieves returned to strip the spouting from the other side of St Paul’s. They just ripped it off with absolutely no care for the building. That this sacred taonga for the whole community should be ravaged in that way is hard to fathom,” she said.
Thieves have stripped precious copper from the roof of St John’s Anglican Church in Te Awamutu.
“The worst and final discovery was that thieves have begun removing the flat roofing off St John’s, all of which is copper. A building without spouting or downpipes is messy, but a building without a roof covering is open to weather – on the way to ruin.
“This building has been there for 60 years, and it’s got another 60 years in it,” she said.
Guest told The News the vandalism and theft was a distraction of her church’s work to bring justice and reconciliation following the wrongs committed against Māori in the New Zealand Land Wars.
She has launched an appeal for help, asking the community to keep a close eye on her building, look out for copper roofing being offered for sale, and for financial help to assist with repairs.
“One lot of advice suggests we should remove all the copper, the entire roof and spouting on St John’s,” she said.
“Although we can claim insurance to patch what has been stolen to date, once we lodge a claim, we will not be insured for a further claim should the thieves return.”
Guest is awaiting a quote for the removal of copper and replacement of the roof.
“Whatever we do, the cost is likely to be prohibitive, but having no roof to protect the building is not an option either. It is a dilemma that requires prayer, and whatever financial support and aid we can find,” she said.
“Please help. It’s hard to feel in the Christmas spirit and be jollying people along.”
Scrap metal dealers are quoting up to $11.30 a kilo for copper – and a three metre copper downpipe will cost about $100 to replace.
Guest, supported by her husband Andrew, has led the parish of four churches since 2019. The Queen Mother worshipped at St John’s in 1966.
Thieves have stripped precious copper from the roof of St John’s Anglican Church in Te Awamutu.
The Queen Mother worships at St John’s in 1966.
St Paul’s Church at Rangiaowhia. Photo: Benjamin Wilson.
