Minister tackles church intruder

McKenzie berated the congregation for believing in God

A Church of Scotland minister was forced to tackle an intruder in combat gear who stormed into a service and began berating his congregation.

Police were called to Perth's North Church on Sunday evening after Richard McKenzie burst in and shouted foul-mouthed abuse at worshippers.

The 23-year-old then lashed out at Rev David Denniston, who had tried to persuade him to leave the church.

McKenzie appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted breaching the peace.

The court heard McKenzie, from Perth, had mocked the congregation's belief in God, and told them they were wasting their time sitting in church on a Sunday evening.

Left shocked

When Rev Denniston asked him to stop his tirade and leave the church, a struggle broke out.

McKenzie was then detained by members of the congregation until he was arrested by officers from Tayside Police.

He appeared from custody at Perth Sheriff Court , where he admitted breaching the peace.

He was going on about how we were all stupid and fools to be sitting in church and believing in God Congregation member

He was on bail at the time of the incident, and has been released on bail again until he is sentenced next month.

One member of the congregation, which numbers about 1,400, said several elderly worshippers had been left shocked by the incident.

The woman, who did not want to be named, added: "He just kind of stormed into the building and went straight up to the platform and grabbed the microphone.

"It wasn't easy to make out exactly what he was saying, because he was pretty drunk and he was shouting at us.

"He was going on about how we were all stupid and fools to be sitting in church and believing in God and so on.

"The minister tried to calm him down, but he just seemed to get more angry and eventually there was a bit of a scuffle.

"The chap was shouting and swearing all the time, but eventually they managed to get him out the door so the service could carry on."