CHERRY CREEK – A former church was recently broken into allegedly by a member or members of a Facebook group that explores old abandoned buildings in Western New York.

The problem is the building wasn’t abandoned, is currently under repairs, and the individuals that entered did so without permission.

Neil Burns bought the former First Baptist Church of Cherry Creek about six years ago. Originally he thought about making it into a bar or brewery, but when the pandemic hit and then with Cockaigne closing, he decided against it. For now he’s continuing to clean it up and making repairs.

Burns’ wife is a member of the Facebook group “Abandoned and beyond Buffalo, NY.” She saw a post where members of the group went inside their former church building and alerted her husband.

Burns joined the group and commented on the post, noting that the church was not abandoned and that those who took the photographs had trespassed on private property. “This building is not neglected. It has been my pride and joy (to) be restoring this magnificent building,” he wrote.

Burns noted that he had removed two 40-foot dumpsters of trash, repaired the roof and scraped paint off in preparation for a paint job.

He also complained in the comment section that whoever took the photos broke the door which was more than 100 years old. “I have to put new security cameras in. I have to worry about copycats coming in and breaking into my place now because of you. How do you not hold yourself responsible for that?” he wrote.

Burns said he doesn’t think they stole anything from the premise, but is upset that they went inside in the first place. “I wasn’t in direct communication with them, but they did send me an apology and offered to help pay to fix up the place but denied breaking in and denied breaking my door,” he said.

The Facebook post is no longer on line and Burns has not received any payments from the group.

Burns said he has contacted State Police with the break-in. “You can’t just break into people’s buildings,” he said.

A trooper assigned to the case commented, “I am doing all that I can for the owner to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.”

Burns also said this isn’t the first time this Facebook group has broken into private property.

In February, WKBW reported that someone from Abandoned and beyond Buffalo, NY posted photos taken inside the Durham Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, which sits in the city of Buffalo.

The building is currently under repairs and is not holding Sunday morning worship services.

In that instance, the Facebook group apologized to the church and deleted the post.

Burns said Facebook members recommended the “Abandoned and beyond” group break into another Cherry Creek building. “I alerted the property owner and she contacted them, warning them not to do that,” she said.

Burns is upset because this Facebook group keeps trespassing on private property, including in Chautauqua County. “My building wasn’t abandoned. I’m there quite a bit, at least once a week,” he said.