‘I felt cold and afraid’: Hagen church targeted by vandals

The congregation at the Saron Lutheran Church in Hagen, a few kilometres southwest of Birch Hills, has been left to pick up the pieces after intruders trashed the building over the weekend.

Sandy Berge was first on scene Sunday morning and told paNOW when she arrived to open the door and help prepare for that day’s service, she saw there was damage to the doorknob, but it was locked.

“I didn’t realize there was a problem at first. I opened the door and saw a mess of the children’s treats scattered in the doorway and still thought it was just an accident, (like) someone dropped them and was in a hurry and didn’t pick them up,” she recalled.

Upon going upstairs, Berge then discovered someone had taken the fire extinguisher off the wall and sprayed the pews. The light from the lectern was also on the floor.

The suspects went through a number of rooms and cupboards in the building, and even took the time to stab a container containing candle oil. (Submitted/ Sandy Berge)

“I felt cold and afraid and shocked all at once as I realized that someone had been here and deliberately vandalized my church,” she said.

Church president Joy Bastness said it appears the culprits first tried entering through a side door and then went around to the back, where they gained entry after smashing the glass door.

“There was blood scatted here and there because they obviously cut themselves,” she said.

In addition to the thick white powder covering the pews, piano, altar and rugs, Bastness explained the intruders opened filing cabinets, and also took out a number of boxes including one under the lectern, scattering the contents everywhere.

“We had candy in there for the kids in a covered ice cream pail and that was strewn and thrown about and actually the pail is missing,” she said.

Bastness also recalled a number of collection plates were broken, as well as various clay pots and a 12-foot piece of siding on the outside of the hundred-year-old building was ripped off

“When I saw it I just thought, ‘Oh no, what a mess.’ Why would anyone do this? Why would anyone do such malicious damage?” she asked.

The investigation

Bastness said the fire extinguisher was located in the nearby bush area, and outside the church, investigators also found a liquor store receipt and a cellphone case. Both presumably had fallen out from a suspect vehicle.

After notifying Wakaw RCMP what had happened, church members sat down and began to compile a list of all the things damaged or stolen. Bastness said at this stage, the only thing missing is the pail of candy.

Meanwhile the Mounties have confirmed for paNOW they believe the incident occurred sometime between Saturday evening and 9 a.m. on Sunday.

The investigation is ongoing at this time. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Wakaw RCMP. To remain anonymous, people can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or visit www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

By Nigel Maxwell, paNOW