Christian bookshop at centre of riots saved

The Cornerstone Bookshop, Lavender Hill, London after the riots

A Christian bookshop threatened in the riots in London last week has been miraculously protected.

Windows of the large corner shop in the Lavender Hill area were smashed in, but none of the Bibles or books were touched and only a few coins were missing from the till.

The Cornerstone Christian Bookshop has been serving the community for over 21 years. According to DigitalJournal, a gang of looters began to set light to the shop before running away, but one rioter amazingly returned to extinguish the fire allowing the shop to open up for business after only one day of closure. Only a 15cm fire mark remains of the attempted arson.

According to the owners, a local resident had witnessed another rioter about to torch the shop when a man cried out to him, "No, don't do that, I live upstairs!" The youth moved on. The owners believe it was an angel, as no man lives in the flat upstairs.

Two large windows and five smaller windows were destroyed causing over £4,000 in damages, however two small windows with Scripture verses remained intact. The Scriptures read,

I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.(John 8:12)

and

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

After being allowed to return to the premises, and with the windows still boarded up, owners Brian and Ulrike Warner had the glass in the door replaced and began trading again immediately. "We have had so many customers," says Mrs. Warner, "It is miraculous...that everything was in tact...I think of Psalm 91 and "But it shall not come near you." (verse 5)

The bookshop features on a new web initiative, DeLootLondon, which aims to help rebuild the communities that have suffered by asking anyone who is going out shopping to use any of the several stores affected.

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