A church in Essex has been vandalized for the sixth time in less than a year, leaving its pastor describing the ordeal as something that “aches [his] heart.” Salvation Chapel International, located in Laindon, west of Basildon, suffered another attack over Easter weekend, adding roughly £1,000 in damage to the £50,000 already from previous incidents.
Daniel Berkoh-Gyamfi, who purchased the church in 2025, said he was alerted by security cameras to movement in the early hours of Easter Sunday. “I’ve been crying over these crimes as if I’d lost a relative,” he told GB News. CCTV footage shows individuals in hooded tracksuits moving through the church grounds late at night.
During this latest vandalization, attackers broke through already boarded-up windows, went to disable security cameras and then stole tools valued at more than £1,000. A still-lit cigarette was left on the ground, but police told Berkoh-Gyamfi they could not run tests on it.
“The police did turn up on time, but they took no forensics, saying it is a commercial premises, so there’s nothing they can do,” he said. “They did ask for CCTV footage, but I would be so grateful if the police took it seriously.”
Berkoh-Gyamfi has gone through five previous attacks on the building in the last year, including a fire, and he believes the incidents may involve more than just local teenagers. While the vandals appear to be young people, the pastor suspects rival developers who had been competing to purchase the land could be orchestrating the assaults.
“I know they watch us—they’re monitoring us,” he said, describing a constant sense of being followed.
Authorities are aware of the repeated vandalism, but the pastor says enforcement responses have been less than ideal. Each attack has left the congregation and its leadership frustrated and financially strained, raising broader concerns about the safety and security of faith communities in the area. A GoFundMe for the church has been launched.
Daniel Berkoh-Gyamfi, who purchased the church in 2025, said he was alerted by security cameras to movement in the early hours of Easter Sunday. “I’ve been crying over these crimes as if I’d lost a relative,” he told GB News. CCTV footage shows individuals in hooded tracksuits moving through the church grounds late at night.
During this latest vandalization, attackers broke through already boarded-up windows, went to disable security cameras and then stole tools valued at more than £1,000. A still-lit cigarette was left on the ground, but police told Berkoh-Gyamfi they could not run tests on it.
“The police did turn up on time, but they took no forensics, saying it is a commercial premises, so there’s nothing they can do,” he said. “They did ask for CCTV footage, but I would be so grateful if the police took it seriously.”
Berkoh-Gyamfi has gone through five previous attacks on the building in the last year, including a fire, and he believes the incidents may involve more than just local teenagers. While the vandals appear to be young people, the pastor suspects rival developers who had been competing to purchase the land could be orchestrating the assaults.
“I know they watch us—they’re monitoring us,” he said, describing a constant sense of being followed.
Authorities are aware of the repeated vandalism, but the pastor says enforcement responses have been less than ideal. Each attack has left the congregation and its leadership frustrated and financially strained, raising broader concerns about the safety and security of faith communities in the area. A GoFundMe for the church has been launched.
