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Valley Memorial Baptist Church
Vandalism occurred at Valley Memorial Baptist Church.Vandals struck Valley Memorial Baptist Church late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, causing significant damage to the small church on Browns Ferry Road.
The suspect or suspects apparently used an ax or hatchet to rip holes in the walls, smash furniture to pieces, overturn pews and pull a water fountain off the wall, flooding parts of the church.
No room was untouched. Craft supplies were scattered in the children's room and desks and chairs were dismantled. A urinal was ripped out of the wall in the men's bathroom and most of the pews in the sanctuary were overturned. Doors and walls were smashed and dotted with deep holes.
Member Dorothy Woody discovered the damage Sunday morning when she and her husband arrived at the church. She said she has no idea who could have caused the damage.
"We don't know of anyone who is angry with the church," she said. "I think they're just angry with God."
Pastor Horace Crawford guessed the damage could cost as much as $100,000 to repair. The church was equipped with surveillance video cameras that he turned over to police. He said it could take as long as a week for police to review the footage.
For complete details, read tomorrow's Times Free Press.