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Thursday, July 17, 2008, 10:00
Nothing is sacred to the nesting birds who have even dive-bombed mourners in the graveyard of St Petroc's Church in Bodmin.
The attacks have become so vicious that the Rev Canon Graham Minors regularly wears a yellow hard hat to enter or leave the church.
The gulls began their aerial onslaughts after setting up a nest and raising a chick in the grounds.
Now they stand guard over their fledgling by perching on top of two ancient crosses on the roof of the 15th century church and swoop over the heads of anyone who approaches.
Mr Minors, 63, said he was left looking like “Bob the Builder with a dog collar”.
He said: “When they spot someone coming up the path they begin to squawk very loudly and if you don't stop they dive-bomb. It is very scary because they're really quite large and powerful birds that could deliver a nasty peck if they got the chance.
“It isn't an ideal situation because some of the congregation are very elderly and don't appreciate being attacked on their way to visit a grave.
“The nest is in the churchyard and if anyone goes in to visit a grave they go even more berserk.
“I had to start wearing a hard hat because I'm coming and going all the time in the course of my duties.
“On the upside, at least the gulls are being good parents and trying to protect their young. We're hoping that once the fledgling leaves they'll calm down a bit and leave.”
The attacks began two weeks ago after the fledgling was hatched in a nest behind some old gravestones leaning against a wall in the churchyard.
Some churchgoers now place bowls of tuna fish at the side of the graveyard in a bid to tempt the seagulls away so they can dash into the church unharmed.
St Petroc's is the largest parish church in Cornwall and as well as its congregation it is a popular spot for tourists – who have also come under attack. Visitor Peter Glaser said: “They really are frightening. As soon as I turned the corner of the churchyard one of them flew towards me and I had to duck. I was terrified and stood with my back against the wall.”
Mr Minors also believes the birds may be confused – because according to the Bible it is another species which has God on its side.
He said: “The bible says that 'a swallow may find a nest for herself, where she may have her young near your altars'.
“Well, these seagulls couldn't find a place in the house of God so they chose the next best thing – the graveyard.”
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Rev Canon Graham Minors, complete with yellow hard hat, takes evasive action from one of the seagulls at St Petroc's Church in Bodmin. He has added protection in the form of an umbrella
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