Mixed feelings over mystery bench plaque

A mysterious message has appeared on a bench in Leytonstone, east London. A plaque on a bench close to Saint John the Baptist Church in Church Lane now reads “Sit on me. I bet you haven’t felt wood this hard since Church.”



Staff at Artistry hair salon, in Church Lane, said they were shocked by the message. Carole Edrich, 40, from Wanstead, burst out laughing after the message was pointed out to her. She said: “I think it is brilliant. I’m sorry if it used to be a memorial bench, but it is funny.”

Lady Catherine, a Christian who works in Wild Goose coffee shop in High Road, was not impressed by the message. She said: “It is awkward. It is like an innuendo but with lewd anti-religious connotations, theres a lot going on. I’m not offended but I wouldn’t want to have to explain it to children and it is a family area.”



The Vicar of Saint John the Baptist Church, David Britton, said: "I only noticed it walking past a couple of weeks ago. I have no idea who put it up. I'm not quite sure what is meant by the message but I suppose the plaque is not a ringing endorsement for church pews. My hope and prayer is that for whoever wrote the plaque, the next time they are in church they would feel a sense of God's presence and his love rather just the hard wood of their seat."