Over the Easter holiday weekend, an act of vandalism occurred at Christ Episcopal Church in downtown Binghamton, destroying the church’s outdoor signs.
The incident marked the second time in 2026 such vandalism had occurred at the Henry Street church, Rev. Scott Parnell said in an April 15 interview.
In January, two signs were also damaged, but Parnell said the congregation “brushed it off” because there was a storm that hit the area the night before.
With a second occurrence, however, coincidence feels less likely.
Police investigate vandalism at downtown church
A report was filed with the City of Binghamton Police Department the day the damage was discovered. Police said they checked surrounding street cameras and did not find anything useful.
The church does not have surveillance cameras — Parnell said its stone structure makes it difficult to install any.
The signs are made out of metal and bolted into metal stakes.
“Somebody had to work hard to get that off,” Parnell said.
Church previously involved in unhoused encampment debate
The church was previously at the center of controversy in the summer of 2025 when it opened its grounds up for an unhoused encampment. In September, the City of Binghamton deemed the encampment unlawful and pointed to safety and nuisance concerns raised by neighboring businesses and residents.
In a Press & Sun-Bulletin article published April 2, Parnell again defended the church’s decision to host the encampment and called its disbandment a tragedy. During that short time residing on the church grounds, some people began to secure jobs and apply for educational programs, he said, and when the encampment closed, so did the opportunities that were becoming available as people switched back into survival mode.
Parnell believes the recent vandalism could be connected to the church’s stance, given the strong opinions he said people have about the unhoused community.
After collecting $1,200 in offerings after the recent vandalism, the church was able to replace all of the signs on April 23.
The new signs are more durable and heavily reinforced, but the expense taps into the church’s operating budget, which Parnell said, “ultimately takes away from the ability for us to do more things.”
Kalyn Grant reports on public service issues for the Press & Sun-Bulletin, focusing on schools and community impact. Have a story to share? Follow her on Instagram @KalynCarmen and on Facebook under Kalyn Kearney. Get in touch at KCGrant@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Binghamton church suspects homeless activism led to repeat vandalism
Reporting by Kalyn Grant, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
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