The Church of England is using nanotechnology ”“ the science of very small things ”“ to fight thieves who strip lead and other valuable metals from the roofs of its ancient buildings.
More than 30,000 of Britain’s 44,000 churches have had their roofs coated in a layer of “nanopaint”, which is visible only under ultraviolet light.
Each church has a different blend of microscopic particles, giving its metal a unique “label”. This enables police to identify church lead found in any haul of suspect scrap, even if it has been melted down.
This is pretty good; the established C of E is combatting people deleading churches! Hey, it worked OK when that institution was getting started; check out Lindisfarne, Glastonbury, any number of picturesque ruins. What was OK for Catholics now offends Anglicans? Too much irony. Or leady..
Were they mistaken for abandoned buildings?