Pastor talks of forgiveness after Wolverhampton church burgled

Mount Shiloh Apostolic Church in All Saints, Wolverhampton, was hit by the break-in over the new year period.

Microwaves and food from the kitchen were stolen in the burglary after the door was kicked in and the kitchen window smashed.

Pastor Gilroy Brown said that despite the theft and damage, the outlook from those involved with the church was positive.

He said: "We are all coping quite well and we're grateful that the damage to the church was only superficial.

"We're making efforts from our existing funds to replace whatever was lost and get things back to normal at the church."

Pastor Brown said the church was not in a traditional area, being surrounded by an industrial estate and with East Park down the road.

He also said that while they would review the security arrangements at the church, it was not something that happened very often.

He said: "Nothing has happened like this for at least the last 20 years and it's amazing how safe we have been since moving here in 1974.

"We would like to be able to move on and not let one bad thing spoil what we have here.

"Every engagement we've had with people here has been positive and while we don't have a massive congregation, we are still blessed to have people coming here."

Pastor Brown also said that while he was disappointed about the burglary, he would not be holding a grudge towards the intruders.

He said: "As Christians we are obliged to forgive. They must have been desperate to want to steal from a church.

"If they have any conscience, they will have to live with themselves for robbing a church but we won't hold that against them."