A CHURCH minister who caused havoc in her own church says the attack was racially motivated.

Reverend Henriette Wentink, who runs Lancaster Road United Reformed Church, in Enfield, left a trail of destruction in the building.

Chairs were hurtled across the room and rubbish, leaflets and other pieces of paper were left in a mound on the floor.

But Rev Wentink says it was all for a good cause – and she created the mess as part of International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

When her parishioners arrived for their Sunday night service and were greeted with the mess, they decided to continue with their evening prayer.

She said: “As a group, we decided that it would be good to still have a time of worship and prayer, even in the midst of the chaos.

“It was then that I confessed who the real culprit was. The rest of the service continued with thinking about and praying for the persecuted Church.

“Somehow the surrounding scene worked. Seldom have I heard such a small number of people in a church sing with so much power, or felt so close a connection with our persecuted Christian sisters and brothers.”

She was inspired to act after watching videos of churches in Syria and Iraq from organisation Open Doors.

She said: “I was touched by the small number of Christians left in these countries. Yet the churches have opened their doors to welcome refugees where and when they are able to.

“Often, they work from partly bombed away church buildings. In the dire circumstances it finds itself in, the Church in Syria and Iraq has returned to truly being salt and light to the people.

“It sets an example of love, forgiveness and reconciliation at grass root level. I am convinced that this will eventually overcome the hatred of ISIS.

“My own generation grew up with an understanding of persecuted Christians in China and behind the iron curtain. And of course part of this is still going on.

“But over the years, the face of the persecuted Church has somewhat changed. Recent events in the Middle East clearly show that. I wanted to raise awareness of it in our church service.”

The parish decided to continue their evening prayers in the midst of the chaos.