Jesus Statue Decapitated at St Alban's Church Warrington War Memorial Vandalised as Hate Crime

Canon Christopher Cunningham got up on Sunday morning looking forward to celebrating Mass. Someone pointed out what had happened outside first. The head of the figure of Jesus on the war memorial crucifix in the grounds of St Alban's Church in Warrington was gone, knocked off, and paint was daubed across the body.

"I was looking forward to celebrating mass but it was distracted because of the thoughts that were taking place," he said in a video posted to the church's Facebook page, as reported by The Sun.

Cheshire Police are investigating the incident as a hate crime, the BBC reports. The damage was discovered at 09:23 GMT on Sunday, 1 November 2026, by a member of the congregation, police said. Officers believe it happened between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Friday, 30 October, and they have issued a CCTV image of a person they would like to speak to about the incident, The Sun reports.

No arrest or charge had been reported in the coverage read for this article.

St Alban's Warrington War Memorial Jesus Statue Vandalised October 30 2026

The memorial stands in the grounds of St Alban's Roman Catholic Church on Bewsey Street, in the Bewsey area of Warrington, Cheshire. The figure of Jesus Christ on the cross topped a memorial honouring local people who died in both world wars, with names recorded on its base, The Sun reports.

Photographs showed the headless figure on the white crucifix, with paint daubed across the body and cross. Reports differ on the colours: The Sun describes what appears to be green and black paint, while the BBC describes blue and green paint. This article reports both versions rather than choosing between them.

Offensive language against the Catholic Church had also been left on the memorial's plaque, Canon Cunningham said. The wording itself is not repeated in this article. A church volunteer removed the offensive language, the BBC reports.

In his video, Canon Cunningham called the attack evil and a true persecution of Jesus and the Catholic Church, The Sun reports. "There has been a persecution, if you like, of the Catholic church by people who have vandalised the crucifix where the war memorial is," he said.

"The graffiti was put on in rather offensive language against the Catholic church and against Christ himself. It is a true persecution," Canon Cunningham said.

He added that the attack felt like more than high spirits. "Maybe it was something to do with Halloween that was celebrated last night but I think it was more than just people having a bit of fun, it was an attack on the church," he said.

"I have not recovered, I suppose, I have not relaxed."

Cheshire Police Hate Crime Investigation St Alban's Church Warrington

Chief Inspector Joseph McNally, of Warrington's local policing unit, called the vandalism particularly upsetting. "The vandalism of a war memorial is particularly upsetting as these sites exist to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country," he said, as reported by both the BBC and The Sun. "This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable and has a significant impact on those who use and support the church and the wider community," he added.

Police appealed for anyone who was near St Alban's Church between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Friday, or over the weekend, to come forward, The Sun reports. Officers said they were especially keen to hear from anyone with CCTV, doorbell, dashcam or mobile phone footage from the area that could help identify those involved. The BBC reports the same appeal, and adds that the force was working closely with local partners and church representatives as part of the investigation.

The timing sharpened the hurt for the congregation. Remembrance Sunday falls on 8 November 2026, a week after the damage was found, and the memorial is a place where the parish remembers its war dead by name.

One person commented on the church's Facebook post, as reported by The Sun: "So sorry to hear about that awful desecration. It's hard to pray for cruel, nasty people but we must. I hope it can be restored."

St Alban's Church declined to comment when contacted by the BBC, the BBC reports, beyond Canon Cunningham's video. Whether the statue can be repaired, and what it will cost the parish, was not stated in either report.

For a small parish, a damaged memorial is not only a police matter. It is a hole in the churchyard where neighbours stop, remember, and pray, and a christain community that went to Mass on Sunday carrying the image of a headless cross in its mind.

Readers can follow other attacks on places of worship in Latest: Maronite Prayer Hall Vandalised in Nahariya as Priest Forgives Attackers, Church Vandalised During Inauguration in West Bengal as Priests and Devotees Attacked, Latest: Southwell Minster Could Close in 2027 as 900 Year Old Cathedral Runs Out of Money, and Called As We Are Exhibition at St Albans Cathedral Celebrates Disabled Church Leaders November 2026.

The head is still missing, the paint is still part of the story, and the police appeal is still open. Whether the person in the CCTV image comes forward, and whether the memorial stands whole again before Remembrance Sunday, is what the parish in Bewsey will be watching for in the days ahead.

But the most surprising part of this story is yet to come — keep reading.