"All Saints" church, Frindsbury, witnesses kindness and callousness

I attended the funeral on Tuesday of a dear man who had fought cancer on and off for years, going through treatment, stoic to the end. The service was held in “All Saints” church at Church Green, Frindsbury, a landmark part of Strood and viewable from many parts of the town.

Having just left a meeting, I composed myself as I walked through the doors, thinking of Bill and his lovely wife, preparing to pay my respects. On arrival I was greeted by the Church Wardens, who apologised profusely and told me that the church was only that morning ankle deep in water as the lead had been stripped from across the roof over the weekend.

Whatever happened to respect for such sacred places, have these people no morals whatsoever? The lead had been removed over the area that housed the church organ, causing untold damage to it. The once proud life of the church, was draped in plastic to protect it from further damage that from the dreadful down-pour of water over the bank holiday had caused, and the service instead was held to an electric organ.

No mention of this episode was made during the service. Instead we heard from Bill’s wife, who told us how Bill had loved nature and whilst he wouldn’t know the name of every variety, he did have a great affinity for birds and how nearing the end of his life, even delayed his medicine to be able to hear the dawn chorus. She told us how Bill when living in China would spend his money setting free the caged birds.

I hope whoever stole from the church appreciates their own freedom for now – it was a despicable thing to do and when their mother, father, brother or sister passes away and they are sitting making their own peace, that their own wrong-doing haunts them forever.