Church staff learn self-defence

The cathedral is the first in England to fund self-defence lessons

Vergers at Sheffield Cathedral are being sent on a self-defence course amid a rising tide of violence against church workers.

It is believed to be the first time that an English cathedral has sent any of its staff on such a course.

Two of the cathedral's four vergers, Bill Ross and David Maw, are to be taught how to deal with threatening people who come into the building.

Mr Maw, 38, said: "As vergers we always aim to treat everyone with the same fairness and respect.

Violent situations

"But that can be difficult when you are faced with an angry man demanding money with menaces, or someone you know is wanted by the police for violent behaviour."

And Mr Ross added: "Jujitsu isn't on the cards, but we need to know how to deal with potentially violent situations and come out unscathed."

The decision to opt for personal safety training follows a recent assault on a Baptist minister in Sheffield.

It is extraordinarily difficult to find clergy willing to move to inner city areas Archbishop of York David Hope

And figures published in March this year showed that since 1999 there had been a 33% surge in the number of violent crimes against vicars and other ministers.

During that period, 561 attacks were recorded, including two murders in 2002.

The figures prompted Archbishop of York David Hope to say: "It is extraordinarily difficult to find clergy willing to move to inner city areas.

"There is a distinct lack of applications, particularly in the north and some of the more difficult areas."