The window in Bishop Barrington DaCosta's office through which the thieves entered the Sanguinetti New Testament Church of God in Clarendon. - George Henry

Members of the Sanguinetti New Testament Church of God in Clarendon were in for an unpleasant surprise when they turned up for their annual foundation fasting for that church for the New Year Thursday morning.

On arrival some minutes to 10 it was discovered that the church had fallen victim to sacrilege, as it was broken into.

Bolts removed

Bishop Barrington DaCosta, the pastor for the church, told THE WEEKEND STAR that he was informed by a member that on arrival for the fasting, she went downstairs where the pastor's office is located and saw the back door wide open, the office ransacked, window curtains and louvre blades removed and drawers pulled out from the pastor's desk and a filing cabinet. A window above the pastor's desk had a few bolts removed from a metal grille, and the grille was pried to allow entry.

He said checks showed that thieves removed a refrigerator with a number of soft drinks from the office and took with them a container with an undetermined sum of money.

Bishop DaCosta said the container was found with $800 in a passage between a tuck shop on the premises and the main worship building. He theorised the thieves broke into the church between 1 a.m. and daylight.

"We left here some minutes to one this morning after our annual watchnight service, which was a good one," said Bishop DaCosta.

Inspector Clive Ramsay of the Spaldings Police Station said police were aware of the break-in and had begun investigating.

Yesterday morning when THE STAR visited the church shortly before 11 a.m., members were out in their numbers singing and sending prayers to God, as they gave thanks to the Creator for sparing their lives to see the new year. Prayers were also offered for the thieves.

Thursday's break-in is the second at the church in two years.