Reward offered to help catch Greek Church arsonist

A £10,000 reward has been offered to help catch the arsonist who destroyed the Grade II listed Greek Orthodox Church in Carlton Hill, Brighton, in July.

The fire caused more than £500,000 worth of damage as it completely gutted the whole interior after spreading quickly through the church on Sunday 4 July.

Detective Sergeant Colin Jaques said: “The fire has had a significant affect on the church congregation, including the children who used an area of the church as a classroom. A full investigation is underway and detectives have been making extensive enquiries and forensic examinations of the building have taken place.”

“I am still eager to trace the owner of a blue Renault Scenic that was seen in the church car park between 2.20pm and 2.35pm just before the fire was reported, so that they can be eliminated from the enquiry.”

The church congregation has been using Saint Michael’s and All Angels Church in St Michael’s Place following the fire.

Stephen Papadopoulos, chairman of the Greek Orthodox Church Committee, said: “Saint Michael’s has been absolutely fantastic in offering us their space to use, but it is not the same as having your own church.

“Some members of the congregation have been scared to go to church since the fire and others have had to hold weddings, Christenings and funerals in other churches, including my daughter who was due to get married shortly after the fire.”

The money for the reward has been raised through donations from members of the public.

Anyone with information can contact Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999 quoting serial 1118 of 04/07 or anonymously call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Posted by on October 12, 2010. Filed under Brighton and Hove News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry