The Rev. Eileen Morris, pastor at the Slatersville Congregational Church, stands before a sign cut with a knife, that’s in front of the church, where an upside-down cross and profanity were carved into an outside wall as well.

The Providence Journal / Ruben W. Perez

NORTH SMITHFIELD — The Rev. Eileen Morris thought a recent incidence of vandalism at her church was over and done with, the damage repaired and a ceremony of conciliation completed, but it happened again, she said on Wednesday.

On Sunday night, someone carved an upside-down cross on the church’s siding, with a foul threat to burn down the Slatersville Congregational Church/United Church of Christ.

The first incident, on Sept. 21, involved the carving of a swastika and a racial slur, Morris said. “Then, on Monday morning, we found in the exact same place an upside-down cross,” she said.

Morris called it shocking.

“This has never happened before,” she said. “This church has been here for 171 years. It sits on the church common in the middle of one of the first planned mill communities,” she said. “It is bucolic and lovely and sleepy.”

Upside-down crosses are often a feature of satanic rituals.

Capt. Tom Lafleur of the North Smithfield police said that both crimes are being investigated.

“We are pursuing several leads,” Lafleur reported. “We are coordinating with other state agencies. We are not ruling anyone out.”

The Rev. Donald C. Anderson, executive minister of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches, said Wednesday that there had been an increase in such incidents in recent months.

“I think there is an environment for this kind of activity,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s economic conditions, or whether people get emboldened by talking to people on the Internet, but I do think there is more of this.”

Anderson mentioned a case in East Providence last month in which someone spray-painted swastikas and a racial slur on a house occupied by an interracial couple, then splashed gasoline on the house and set it afire.

Three firefighters were injured. John “Jack” Chartier, state fire marshal, linked that case to another about a half-mile away in which a trailer that was backed up against a commercial building was severely damaged by fire. He called them “two very serious crimes.”

Earlier this month, groundskeepers at a golf course in Lakeville, Mass., found a swastika carved into a green alongside the name of President Obama.

Anderson said of the Rhode Island incidents: “I don’t think this a coordinated thing, but I do think the environment seems to be that folks are comfortable in coming out and doing some of these dastardly things. In Slatersville, there was actually a threat to burn down the building. You hope it’s just someone being foolish, but you can’t take any chances, either.”

Morris said her church does not plan to offer a reward for information about the culprit.

“Hopefully, someone will feel strongly enough to come forward without the promise of money,” she said. “We are a church, and if I have to choose between using money to feed the hungry and prosecuting someone, we will feed the hungry first.”

Lafleur said that anyone with information may call the police at (401) 762-1212.

tmorgan@projo.com