• Support Wokingham Today
  • Get the print edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Wokingham.Today
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • All
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
    • Riseley
    • Shinfield
    • Sindlesham
    • Sonning
    • Spencers Wood
    • Swallowfield
    • Three Mile Cross
    • Twyford
    • Wargrave
    • Winnersh
    • Wokingham
    • Wokingham Without
    • Woodley
    • Woosehill
    • Yateley
    Wokingham Borough Council's Shute End offices Picture: Phil Creighton

    Council defends £4.53m temp staff spend

    Arborfield Green's new district centre. Pic: WBC.

    Update on Arborfield community facilities

    The Eco Skills Learning Centre at Pudding Lane was launched on Saturday. Pictures: Emma Merchant

    New Eco Skills Centre launches in Arborfield

    The property will become the company?s headquarters and training centre.

    Global leader moves in at Winnersh Triangle

    Interactive games hosted by Climate Fresk will offer a fun way to better understand climate change and biodiversity. Here Elizabeth Corse explains the games to visitors. Picture: Emma Merchant

    Love games and the planet?

    Twyford barn dance raises thousands for charity

    An afternoon of jazz and afternoon tea will raise funds for The Cowshed in July. Picture: Zeno Aras via Unsplash

    Uplifting July jazz afternoon promises to fizz in Waltham St Lawrence

    Clive Jones being sworn in as MP for Wokingham on Tuesday. Pic: BBC.

    MP: ‘Protect free school meals out of term time’

    Wokingham MP, Clive Jones. Pic: Andrew Batt.

    MP calls for more evening trains

  • SPORT
    • All
    • Binfield FC
    • Reading FC
    Noise and floodlighting would impact the location, it was argued. Pic: Andrew Batt.

    Earley sports pitch plans in the floodlight

    Berkshire Football awards.

    Football in Berkshire shortlist revealed

    Chem Campbell

    Reading FC miss out on transfer target to fellow League One club

    Mark Bowen

    Former head of football at Reading FC lands new job

    Peter Markwick

    It’s top of the championship for Wokingham racing driver

    1871 EVENTS PRESENTS: Jimmy Quinn

    Reading FC legend Jimmy Quinn to share his memories of title success and Wembley heartbreak

    Reading FC

    Reading FC to host Swindon Town and Oxford United in pre-season friendlies

    Reading FC fans

    Reading FC chairman Rob Couhig gives update on season ticket sales

    Golf Picture: Pixabay

    Unique Golf Club celebrates 50th anniversary with publication of a history book

  • READING FC
  • COMMUNITY
    Arborfield Green's new district centre. Pic: WBC.

    Update on Arborfield community facilities

    The Eco Skills Learning Centre at Pudding Lane was launched on Saturday. Pictures: Emma Merchant

    New Eco Skills Centre launches in Arborfield

    Interactive games hosted by Climate Fresk will offer a fun way to better understand climate change and biodiversity. Here Elizabeth Corse explains the games to visitors. Picture: Emma Merchant

    Love games and the planet?

    Twyford barn dance raises thousands for charity

    An afternoon of jazz and afternoon tea will raise funds for The Cowshed in July. Picture: Zeno Aras via Unsplash

    Uplifting July jazz afternoon promises to fizz in Waltham St Lawrence

    Clive Jones being sworn in as MP for Wokingham on Tuesday. Pic: BBC.

    MP: ‘Protect free school meals out of term time’

    MP Yuam Yang outside the takeaway.

    MP says sorry for social media post

    Noise and floodlighting would impact the location, it was argued. Pic: Andrew Batt.

    Earley sports pitch plans in the floodlight

    The restaurant promises to be a 'vibrant' location and social hub.

    Date set for new restaurant opening

  • LIFESTYLE
    • All
    • Food
    • Health
    • Obituaries
    • People
    The Eco Skills Learning Centre at Pudding Lane was launched on Saturday. Pictures: Emma Merchant

    New Eco Skills Centre launches in Arborfield

    Interactive games hosted by Climate Fresk will offer a fun way to better understand climate change and biodiversity. Here Elizabeth Corse explains the games to visitors. Picture: Emma Merchant

    Love games and the planet?

    MP Yuam Yang outside the takeaway.

    MP says sorry for social media post

    The restaurant promises to be a 'vibrant' location and social hub.

    Date set for new restaurant opening

    Party in the Park 2025. Pic by Stewart Turkington.

    Rain didn’t dampen party spirits as Elms Field hosts Wokingham’s Party in the Park

    Wokingham MP Clive Jones Picture: Andrew Batt

    MP to talk about his first year

    MICHAEL TATLOW DARLISON

    Jenni Donato.

    Wokingham businesswoman nominated for award

    Ascot Top Hats is based in Wokingham.

    Ten tips for a top day at Royal Ascot

  • WHAT’S ON
    • All
    • Arts
    • Entertainment
    An afternoon of jazz and afternoon tea will raise funds for The Cowshed in July. Picture: Zeno Aras via Unsplash

    Uplifting July jazz afternoon promises to fizz in Waltham St Lawrence

    The Bucket List Wishes Summer Festival is taking place at Highfield Park, Hook, from 2.30pm-10.30pm on Saturday, July 5.

    Bucket List Wishes Summer Festival to return in July

    1871 EVENTS PRESENTS: Jimmy Quinn

    Reading FC legend Jimmy Quinn to share his memories of title success and Wembley heartbreak

    Hillbilly Moon Explosion

    Swiss rockabilly band Hillbilly Moon Explosion to perform at Face Bar in Reading next month

    Henley Festival: Garry Jones Photography

    Henley Festival 2025 reveals line-up of emerging musicians & visual artists performing on ‘rise’ stage

    RaW Sounds celebrates five years of championing local music

    Party in the Park on Saturday.

A balcony view.

    Get ready for Party in the Park

    Marvellous is a tribute act festival. Pic: WBC.

    A Marvellous tribute at Dinton

    Double Standards

    New play ‘Double Standards’ at South Streets Art Centre to explore hypocrisy in dating

  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT
No Result
View All Result
Wokingham.Today
No Result
View All Result
Home Area Arborfield

Berkshire churches urged to review security

by Andrew Batt
June 29, 2024
in Arborfield, Bracknell, Community, Lifestyle, News, Reading, Wokingham
Work at a church in Arborfield. Pic: Andrew Batt.

Work at a church in Arborfield. Pic: Andrew Batt.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Churches throughout the county are being urged to take steps to prevent break ins following a series of incidents across the UK.

The warning comes from specialist insurer Ecclesiastical following a spate of thefts from churches.

A number of churches have been targeted in the first half of 2024 – including Grade-I listed Holy Trinity Church in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, which had a silver plate, chalices and other items used for communion stolen.

St Nicholas’ Church in Kings Norton, Birmingham was burgled and a stained-glass window smashed by a thief, and in nearby St Mary’s Church, Henley-on-Thames, a safe was cracked and a cash collection stolen.

Earlier this year, a report published by Historic England and the National Police Chief’s councilhighlighted the risk of an increase in theft of valuable heritage materials and cultural objects by opportunist offenders and organised crime groups, as inflation continues to impact on the price of commodities.

Ecclesiastical is urging churches across the country to carry out reviews of their security arrangements as a result of this recent increase in break ins and thefts.

Related posts

Council defends £4.53m temp staff spend

Update on Arborfield community facilities

Helen Richards, church operations director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: “Theft from church buildings can have a heartbreaking impact, both on the volunteers and congregation who give their time to worship at the church and also to the potential loss of heritage.

“Sadly we’re seeing more incidents where churches are being targeted, with items such as silver, cash, statues, furniture and even paving stones being stolen. While many of these items have limited financial value, they are irreplaceable, and the emotional impact of that loss can be devastating.

“There is a real risk the economic challenges in the UK and high value of silver could see an increase in thefts from historical buildings such as churches, so we’re urging churches across the country to take steps to protect themselves and follow our guidance which is available through our website.

“We still want churches to be open during the day to their communities, congregation and potential visitors, but we must all be aware of the risks.

“It is critically important that churches follow our risk management advice to protect themselves.

The specialist insurer’s risk management team advises churches to take the following steps:

Keep your church secure: At night lock your church doors, windows, and any external gates. Installing security lights and keeping the exterior well-lit can deter criminals and applying anti-climb paint. Also, consider installing intruder alarms and CCTV, all remotely monitored by an alarm-receiving centre that can alert the church if there is an incident.

Report suspicious activity and encourage use of church buildings: Use the building as much as possible for church and community activities. Regularly occupied and used buildings may be less vulnerable to attacks.

Practise good housekeeping: Keep internal doors shut and locked when not in use, put any valuables into secure safes, remove any equipment that could be used to access the church – such as ladders used for maintenance.

Carry out regular external inspections of your church buildings and grounds: Regularly check your buildings and report any criminal damage to the police and your insurers as soon as possible. Cut back vegetation on a regular basis so the building can be seen by people passing who may spot suspicious activity.

Repair any criminal damage to the church building immediately: A damaged building is at risk of further attacks, including arson. Ensure any graffiti or other signs of anti-social behaviour are removed quickly.

Report theft to the police and insurer: In the event that the worst case happens, make sure you report the break in to the police so they can visit and collect forensic evidence to support any investigation. It’s also important to let your insurer know so they can help process the claim.

For more information on how churches can protect themselves, visit ecclesiastical.com.

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Previous Post

‘This is the darkest day yet’: Sell Before We Dai responds to Reading FC Women’s update

Next Post

A splash of summer colour

FOLLOW US

POPULAR THIS WEEK

The restaurant promises to be a 'vibrant' location and social hub.

Date set for new restaurant opening

June 11, 2025

Twyford barn dance raises thousands for charity

June 12, 2025
Othniel Adoma

‘He always had a smile on his face’: Tributes paid after tragic passing of 11-year-old Othniel Adoma in minibus crash

June 8, 2025
Berkshire Football awards.

Football in Berkshire shortlist revealed

June 11, 2025
Henley Festival: Garry Jones Photography

Henley Festival 2025 reveals line-up of emerging musicians & visual artists performing on ‘rise’ stage

June 8, 2025
Jenni Donato.

Wokingham businesswoman nominated for award

June 10, 2025

ABOUT US

Wokingham Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Wokingham. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Wokingham Borough.

Wokingham.Today is a Social Enterprise and aims to ensure that everyone within the Borough has free access to independent and up-to-date news. However, providing this service is not without costs. If you are able to, please make a contribution to support our work.

CONTACT US

[email protected]

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

  • Support Us
  • Book Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: [email protected], or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
  • COMMUNITY
  • LIFESTYLE
  • SPORT
  • READING FC
  • OBITUARIES
  • WHAT’S ON
  • JOBS
  • PHOTOS
  • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • CONTACT US
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION
  • SUPPORT US

© 2022 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.