KELSEYVILLE, Calif. — An early Tuesday morning break-in at Kelseyville Presbyterian Church days ahead of its Christmas celebrations has led to thousands of dollars worth of damage, but the church says it plans to move forward with its holiday celebrations, including services and a Christmas Day dinner.

The church, located at the corner of Third and Church streets, marked its 150th anniversary in June. What occurred early Tuesday may be the worst break-in it has suffered in its history.

An alarm before 1 a.m. alerted church members and staff to the break-in.

When they arrived at the scene, they found that every building on the campus had been broken into — from the main church building to the Fellowship Hall, the food pantry that serves thousands of residents a year and Heritage Hall, where the Sheriff’s Activity League holds its boxing program.

Several doors and about a dozen windows were bashed in, and interior walls were beaten with what appeared to be a hammer.

Church staff, however, did not find anything had been taken.

Early estimates of damage are as high as $18,000, the church reported.

A Go Fund Me account has been set up to help the church begin the process of making the repairs.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the break-in and vandalism and is asking for information from anyone who may have seen individuals around the church or on its property late Monday night and early Tuesday morning.

The church has managed to clean up the broken glass and cover broken windows until they can be repaired.

Despite what occurred, the church said it is going forward with its Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services, and invites the community to come and celebrate the holiday with them.

The church’s leadership quoted the Gospel of John 1:5: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

The church also will be the location for a Christmas Day community dinner for seniors hosted by Rob Brown and Angela Carter.

Anyone with information about the break-in and vandalism is asked to contact Sgt. Joe Dutra of the Lake County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-262-4238.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews. She is a member of the Session of Kelseyville Presbyterian Church.