A church in Abertridwr has been hit by a spate of vandalism in recent months, with fears it may have to close to the public.
Members of Eglwysilan Church claim that a collection box has been stolen and the visitors book has been defaced.
They also claim a flagstone was stolen from the path outside the church.
Julia Rawlins, who is a member of the Church Action Team at Eglwysilan Church, said the vandalism had been happening regularly for a number of months.
Mrs Rawlins said: “The church is open to the public for people to enjoy.
“It’s such a shame. We might be forced to close the church to the public until we have CCTV installed.
“We’re very much out of the way here and the stream of vandalism is quite constant.
“It’s mindless to do things like this when there’s so much space around.”
Mrs Rawlins also said that obscenities were written in the visitors’ book, which has been at the church since the 1940s, and pages were ripped out.
“The visitors’ book had been signed by people from all over the world.
“We’ve also had fire extinguishers sprayed around the church and thrown about and we’ve had to apply to have a new collection box fitted.
“It’s a long process to apply for a collection box.”
Mrs Rawlins also explained how these acts have been accompanied by a number of petty acts, such as a box of cocktail sticks being scattered across the floor.
“We’re concerned and we feel as though we have to clear things out the way. There are lit candles in the church too.”
Mrs Rawlins added: “Centuries of people have have come to this church.
“People in the Aber Valley use this church for marriages, baptisms and funerals. It’s very dear to the valley.
“The church has always been there for the community.”
Currently, the church is open to the public during the day time.
Nerys Beckett, benefice administrator at the church, reiterated that while the church may have to be locked during the day time, Sunday services would continue as normal.