Father Tim Handley

A CHURCH is fundraising to repair its window after it was badly damaged by alleged vandalism.

Panels of the 19th-century Te Deum window at St James’s in Sussex Gardens, Paddington, were completely destroyed. And the church has called for “urgent help” to fund £35,000 of repairs and also to protect its other stained glass windows.

Former BBC editor turned parish priest Father Tim Handley, who joined in October, turned “holy crime buster” after he rushed out of evening prayers after hearing the window smash.

Fr Tim said: “The window will get repaired and it will be fine. But at the same time it’s terrible for people in Paddington as they do think about it as their parish church.”

Damage at St James’s

He added that “people have shown an awful lot of love and affection for their local church”, even people who aren’t Christians but live in the area, such as the local kebab shop.

“It’s upsetting from that point of view. It will all be fine in the end but it’s just a real pity,” he said.

“We’ve got three weddings in May and it’s a real shame. I don’t think that window will be fixed by then so they won’t get the full beauty of the church for that special day.

“Insurance will pay for the repair of the window but we’ve got to protect it. Probably with some kind of grille, but that’s a debate between the council, the diocese and the Victorian Society.”

The damage occurred in the week after new year, following “a brilliant Christmas” for St James’s.

The Metropolitan Police Service confirmed they were called to the church around 6.15pm on January 5 and British Transport Police colleagues had arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of criminal damage in connection with the incident the same day.

He has since been bailed.

Parishioner Chris Gunness, who was at the service, praised Father Tim as a “hero”, and said: “He’s only been our parish priest for a matter of weeks, but has risen to the challenge.

“In a matter of weeks he has established himself as an inspiration and an example to us all. Thank you Father Tim.”

He described him as a “holy crime-buster”.

The church raised £5,576 of a £35,000 target after a fundraiser was set up on gofundme.