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Prayers for desecrated grave family
Oct 10 2004
Prayers will be said today at a church where animal rights activists are accused of digging up the grave of an 82-year-old woman.
Traditional Sunday services at St Peter's Church, in the village of Yoxall, Staffordshire, will go ahead despite continued police work at the scene.
The Rev Jenny Lister, Rector of Yoxall, said prayers would be offered for Gladys Hammond, who was buried in the churchyard seven years ago and whose grave was seriously desecrated last week.
Her family, who breed guinea pigs for medical research at a nearby farm, have been the target of protests by animal rights activists in recent years.
It is widely believed extremists opposed to the operation at Darley Oaks Farm, Newchurch, are responsible for the attack, in which it is understood the pensioner's remains were disturbed.
Ms Lister said prayers would be offered for Mrs Hammond, her family, the local community and investigating police officers who, she said, had all been affected by "this vile act".
The churchwoman said she would read a brief statement to the congregation and had set aside a table with candles and a book of condolence for Mrs Hammond's family.
In a statement released through Staffordshire Police yesterday, Mrs Hammond's family said she was a much loved mother and grandmother and called on anyone with information to come forward.
It read: "She was devoted to her family and fortunately did not have to experience in her lifetime the distress we as a family have suffered in recent years at the hands of animal extremists.
"The callous and sick individuals who desecrated the grave of an 82-year-old lady must be caught."
Specialist police officers were continuing to comb the scene for clues.
