Vandals smear human poo on church

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The grotesque human poo graffiti on the wall outside the entrance to Trinity Methodist Church. It was also defecated onto the ground near the front door, with accompanying used toilet tissues. Photo supplied

Unholy vandals have wiped human poo on a sacred house of worship, while burglars have attempted to break into the church that usually welcomes all.

What makes the attempted burglary sacrilegious is that a wooden cross was used in the violent act of smashing a window in the honourable house of a peace-loving congregation.

There’s more – a fire was lit late at night next to a building on the property of Trinity Methodist Church that could have burnt down its charity shop.

The latest deplorable attacks happened at the Christian church in Pakuranga Road less than 24 hours before the arson of McDonald’s Pakuranga, next door, on Monday, May 5.

Responding to Times questions, a Counties Manukau Police spokesperson confirms Trinity Methodist Church has been targeted by hoodlums for three months.

“Police have received three reports of burglary at the church since early February.

“Police will assess any report made to us for lines of enquiry, and unfortunately, we were unable to progress the investigation into the two earlier burglaries.

“We understand it’s frustrating for the church,” says the police spokesperson.

“Enquires are ongoing into the latest incident on May 5.”

The Times visited Trinity Methodist Church and Trinity Kindergarten twice last week, after the incineration of McDonald’s Pakuranga, because they are neighbours, and later because of the attacks on the distinctive A-frame designed church.

It’s also next door to Columbus Café and across the busy six-lane highway from Howick Pakuranga Netball Centre and Lloyd Elsmore Park.

“A wooden cross was used to smash the window,” says Reverend Amos Muzondiwa, pointing to the broken pane in the set of street-fronting glass panels.

“On that day [May 5], we arrived to find the wall of the entrance way to the church covered in human poo.

“It was so bad. You could smell it from the car park.”

Reverend Amos Muzondiwa points to the flame singe marks on the building that holds The Barn garage and charity sales. Times photo PJ Taylor

Rev Muzondiwa says he and the many people arriving at the church and kindergarten at the beginning of the working week, including “kids”, were “shocked” at the site and foul odour of human faeces artistically smeared on the wall.

Poo was also defecated on the ground outside the door, with accompanying toilet paper.

“This graffiti was something. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve dealt with graffiti, but this was deplorable.”

The church leader, originally from Zimbabwe, then showed the Times the hall building at the property’s front.

It’s used as its The Barn charity shop that holds much-needed revenue-generating garage sales.

Rev Muzondiwa says a homeless man had been sleeping under its non-walled outdoor shelter.

“He made a fire. I told him before not to do it,” he says, pointing to the flame singe marks evident on May 5.

The reverend says the “very rude” homeless man had been sleeping rough on the church grounds recently, telling the vagrant he could stay there under cover at night if he resisted lighting fires.

The homeless man has not been back since May 5.

“We feel bad. One of the things we do as a church is play our part in the community,” Rev Muzondiwa says.

“We try to be welcoming and include everybody.”

He says the stinky business was “uncivilised” behaviour and the lighting of the fire “dangerous”.

“How do churches deal with this? Life has changed – the health and safety of people who feel intimidated.

“How do we continue in an environment like this?”

The view of the smashed windowpane from inside the church. Times photo PJ Taylor

Rev Muzondiwa says The Barn charity shop has been broken into four times this year.

“Nothing was stolen. They just broke and smashed the items for sale.

“Some people can be threatened by this. This is our dilemma.

“This is one of the popular kindergartens in the area, but teachers are leaving,” Rev Muzondiwa says, explaining educators and carers of the preschool children are moving on because of the vandals’ disturbing attacks on the Trinity community and property.

“Lots of old people come here [the church] for activities on different days. When such things happen, people feel unsafe.

“We have tried to be a welcoming, open community space for everyone.”

Previously, Rev Muzondiwa says the church never had to contemplate having an alarm system, but it has installed one recently, and security cameras.

“We have to take some measures to protect innocent people.”

Police say people with any information about the attacks on Trinity Methodist Church, at 474 Pakuranga Road, can go online to 105.police.govt.nz, click Make a Report, or by calling 105.

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on free phone 0800 555 111.