Graffiti on St Mary's Church in Sholing, Southampton, will be costly

The main entrance of St Mary’s in Sholing was vandalised earlier this month.

Revd Garry Roberts initially chuckled about the graffiti, suggesting it had been scrawled by a youngster making a “stupid choice”.

But he has now received a quote for works at around £450 to £500 – money he would rather be spending on enhancing the church’s new toddler group.

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“We are going to have to strip the door because the church is listed,” he said.

“What people don’t realise is, we don’t get any money from anywhere.

“The money we generate is from our ever-dwindling congregation, and we would much rather be spending our money on our new toddler group.

“We had planned to buy new toys for the kids, but that cash will now be wasted on repairing something that shouldn’t need repairing.”

The drawing and writing, both large and in white spray-paint, was likely completed on the evening of March 11 – just hours before the church was set to open for its first Spring Sale event since Covid restrictions eased.

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Southampton-based company Hillfox Developments kindly removed the spray paint from the door, free of charge.

But the issue is far from resolved, as the entrance to the listed building has been left damaged and stained.

A phallic drawing was also spray-painted on wall of the alleyway running alongside the church in St Monica Road.