A 7ft wooden cross used in an Easter procession and open air service was attacked by being set alight twice on Good Friday.
A 54-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson. The cross was set on fire following a service in Faversham, Kent.
In a separate incident eleven windows were smashed in a church in Livingston over the Easter weekend, the latest in a number of attacks on the church.
Grudge
Commenting on the attack in Kent, the Revd Geoff Cook of Faversham Baptist Church said he could “only speculate” as to the motive.
He described how, after the second attack was reported, the police took the cross away.
Revd Cook said: “After the first incident I felt someone had over-indulged and was having a bit of fun but when there was a second attempt I felt it was more likely to be someone who has a grudge, although maybe still fuelled by alcohol.”
Cost
The church attack in Livingston was targeted at St Andrews Church on Main Street in the Deans area of the town.
It was discovered by two churchgoers who arrived to prepare the building for the Easter Sunday service.
Jim Pollock, who looks after the grounds, said it was not an isolated incident but was the worst yet at the church.
Mr Pollock commented: “Nobody ever sees who does it and although we have insurance it leads to a substantial cost. We were last hit only two months ago.”
Burned
Local councillor Bruce Ferrie called the attack “disgraceful” and “mindless”. Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for witnesses.
In October last year yobs in West Yorkshire burned Bibles and slashed hymnbooks in an attack against a Methodist church in a village near Bradford.
The damage included a large crucifix ripped from an interior wall, slashed chairs, and wires leading to the church’s speakers and piano keyboard being cut.
Devastated
And in March last year a 19th century Cambridgeshire church was gutted following a massive fire, reportedly started when Bibles and prayer books were set alight.
In September 2009 members of a church in Wales were left “devastated” after finding the windows of their building smashed by thugs hurling rocks.
St Gwynour’s in Penclawdd, South Wales, had recently renovated its windows at a cost of around £2,000. At the time Warden Pamela Evans said: “There was broken glass all over the church.”