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Wife of vicar beaten for 'being a Christian' by Asian yobs speaks of shock at faith hate attack
Last updated at 01:07am on 18.03.08The wife of a clergymanbeaten up in his churchyard in a suspected " faithhateî crime has spoken of the shock felt by his congregation.
Canon Michael Ainsworth, 57, was set upon by three Asian youths shouting anti-Christian abuse when he confronted them for rowdy behaviour outside St George-in-the-East church in Shadwell, leaving him with two black eyes and cuts and bruises.
His wife, Janina Ainsworth, 56, took Palm Sunday services yesterday after Canon Ainsworth was re-admitted to hospital for his injuries. She said: "It is obvious that it does contain a religious element.
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Canon Micheal Ainsworth was in hospital last night after being attacked in his church yard by youths
"Quite clearly, there are mindless individuals in every community under the influence of drink and drugs who will engage in random acts of violence. But we're very shocked."
She said her husband was expected home to the rectory next to the church in Cannon Street Road tonight.
"We do know that churchyards have been quite vulnerable places so we are going to be working with the church, the police and the local council to look at security," she added.
Wife Jan insists her husband feared publicity over the attack could lead to racial tension
"Normally community relations here are very good. We have had very strong messages of support from the East London Mosque and Tower Hamlets Mosque with whom we've got good relations.
"Clearly the Muslim community is very shocked. These individuals were under the influence and this was a random act."
The Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, said clergymen who were part of the community were "vulnerable" to attacks.
"Over the years we've had murders, we've had assaults on clergy,"he said. "Therefore we have over the past few years been beefing up our security and operations.
"But of course if you go out into the streets, if you belong to the community, if you're a part of it, then you are vulnerable."
Mrs Ainsworth faced a fearful congregation yesterday who said rising tensions in the area had led up to the attack on 5 March, the second time the church has been targeted after a Good Friday attack last year in which youths threw bricks through the windows.
Gravestones in nearby St Dunstan's Church in Stepney are also regularly vandalised and locals say drink and drugs problems, combined with religious differences, fuel the attacks.
Parishioner Susan Crocker said: "It is not out of the blue, they broke the glass last Easter - it's a recurrent problem."
Toni Davey, 43, said: "To be honest something like this was going to happen sooner or later - it is the area and the times we are living in. There is a tension in the area with the Muslims."
Father-of-four Mr Ainsworth officiated last year at the wedding of Coronation Street star Andy Whyment, who plays Kirk Sutherland.
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Canon Ainsworth asked three Asian youths to quiten down when he was attacked in the grounds of St George-in-the-East
He moved with his family from Manchester last summer and was said to be working hard to connect with the large Bangladeshi community in the area.
Michael Saward, 75, said: "I saw Michael about 10 days ago and he looked very frail and fragile with two large black eyes. Obviously we're all very shocked."
Police have confirmed the case is being treated as a faith-hate crime and no arrests have been made.
The Rev Alan Green, area dean for Tower Hamlets and chairman of the Tower Hamlets Inter-Faith Forum, said: "Any incident that involves an element of abusive faith-related language should be handled in this way.
"An important part of the work of the Tower Hamlets Inter Faith Forum is to bring together representatives from our local faith communities, the borough council and the Metropolitan Police to monitor and respond to all reported faith-hate incidents.
"This ensures that we protect people of all faiths or none and maintain the good relations that exist locally between our diverse population."
Reader views (9)
The English voted the old gang immigration parties for years. Now they wonder the impact immigration has on their lives, that's pathetic.
- Blizzard, Stuttgart, Germany
I fear that the attacks will continue and get bolder and more violent as in other countries as Islam expands and flexes its muscles. It's no coincidence that we have fought this cult for hundreds of years.
- terence oakes, Rainhill, Liverpool
Something just has to be done, this is just being treated as another attack, when it simply isn't it's a religious hate attack against a vicar.
- Jon E, Upminster, England
I pray for his swift recovery, and that the attackers are quickly brought to justice. It does make you wonder what our forbears sacrificed so much for.
- Bob Smith, london, uk
You are just seeing a glimpse into Europe`s future. As Islamic immigration continues, more and more areas will become off-limits for Western law and culture. France had already 800 so-called "problem zones", until the government in 2000 solved the problem by stopping to count.
- Willi Brix, Flensburg, Germany
I don't agree with Sarah N. Not only should people respect the religious institutions of other faiths, but churches remain as a distinct reminder of the history of this country. To ignore your history is to ignore your cultural identity and I think incidents like this go to show that we are now a fragmented nation with no clear identity or direction.
Take a look at our people, you can no longer talk of minorities being of a particular colour or religion, we are a nation of sizeable minorities. The great experiment must come to an end soon when it is realised that fragmentation does not work. We need leadership that speaks for the whole. The current lot, political or religious from any side, do not cut it.
- Les, Essex, UK
Sarah, have you been to Tower Hamlets recently? It is a deprived community!
- Annie, London, UK
And who have we got to thank for this unholy mess that we find ourselves in where our most reverent of Holy men are beaten in their own Church grounds,
Yes you got it Messrs Bliar and Broon.
- Bazzer, West Country, England.
I am very sorry to hear of a priest being attacked, and wish Canon
Ainsworth a speedy recovery.
One thought did occur to me - why does the Church of England not just sell these huge (and sadly, empty) churches, and build new ones in the middle of deprived communities who might welcome their presence. How about Myatt's Fields Estates in Brixton, where a young man was shot dead today? Would the young people of Myatt's Fields be more responsive to Christ's message?
St. Georges, and churches like it are a huge drain, maybe it's time to think the unthinkable about them.
- Sarah N., London, UK
