Swastikas Carved Into Doors Of Upper West Side Church

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Two swastikas were carved into the wooden doors of an Upper West Side church which describes itself as a "beacon of liberal religion."

The vandalism was discovered Tuesday morning by staff members of the Fourth Universalist Society in the City of New York — a Universal Unitarian church on Central Park West and West 75th Street — according to a message posted by the church's Reverend Schuyler Vogel on Facebook.

"Last night, the front doors of our sanctuary were desecrated by several swastikas carved sharply into the wood," the message said.

Church staff contacted police and attempted to cover up the imagery, but it is currently unknown who carved the swastikas into the church doors or for what reason.

Despite the vandalism the Fourth Universalist Society's congregation will meet on Sunday to reflect and process the incident. The church staff is working to permanently repair the doors, Vogel said in his message.

Read the reverend's full message below:

Photo by Google Maps street view