ELEVEN gravestones have been desecrated- including a small memorial to a 13-week-old baby.
The Reverend Sarah Jones was alerted to the damage in St Mary’s churchyard in Ross-on-Wye by a passing dog walker on Monday.
She called the police after finding at least 11 gravestones which had been knocked over.
Revd Jones said: “There was no real explanation other than they had been pushed over.
“It is really sad. I counted 11 in various states. There was one that was obviously broken.”
Some of the gravestones had been there for more than 100 years, including a 13-week-old baby’s.
Revd Jones said: “I think she might have been buried about 100 years ago but even so. That memorial was only two and a half feet high. It was a small memorial for a small human that has been pushed over.”
It is unknown at this stage if any of the graves are still tended to by family members or friends.
She said she felt upset when she saw the damage and added: “I don’t think the people that have done it are bad people but it is definitely bad behaviour.”
Revd Jones is now checking with their insurance policy to see if the damage can be repaired.
She added: “It is not high-spirited behaviour, it is not stupidity, it goes a bit beyond that.
“I also feel quite sad for the people that have done it. If you do these things often it must affect you in some way. They have to stop, it is not acceptable.”
If you have any information with regards to the vandalism call police on 101 and quote incident number 610-S-170717
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