Vicar warns of satanic activity after finding sheep's head 'offering'

Gloucestershire parish hit by spate of mutilated animal carcasses being found

Steven Morris
guardian.co.uk, Monday 30 November 2009 14.56 GMT

A vicar has warned his congregation of an increase in "satanic activity" after he found a severed sheep's head mounted on a pole outside a church in his Gloucestershire parish.

The Rev Nick Bromfield warned that "dark forces" were on the rise in the area and revealed a series of mutilated animal carcasses had been found.

The "offerings" had been ritualistically laid out in circles or around stones in his three Forest of Dean parishes – Drybrook, Lydbrook and Ruardean.

Bromfield has issued a warning to parishioners against dabbling in occult events, even those that may seem harmless, such as crystal ball readings or pub psychic nights.

He said: "I want people to be aware of the potential damage that can be caused by this kind of activity. It might sound medieval to talk about the relationship between good and evil, but there is no middle ground on this. People need to leave well alone.

"I've been told there are people operating in a darker place and I've seen signs of satanic activity in the forest."

The vicar suggested that the geographical position of the forest close to the border between England and Wales could be a factor. "It's difficult to quantify but there is something about borders that attracts occult activity and the seclusion is also very attractive. They are allowing in forces that can do great damage."

The Forest of Dean has long been regarded as a place of ghosts, big cat sightings and other strange happenings. In drama it was immortalised by Dennis Potter in his strange play for the BBC, Blue Remembered Hills, in which a boy is burned to death.

Bromfield said he was receiving increasing requests for him to bless homes in his district because their owners feared something is amiss.

The sheep's head is the latest sign of black magic worship in the area surrounding his churches.

He said: "Naturally it wasn't very pleasant and I burned it. But I think it's something that clergy in many rural parishes have experienced. But my message to the people is 'don't mess', because you risk being duped or unleashing forces you cannot control."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/30/satanic-rituals-gloucestershire