A pride banner displayed outside a Stamford church was found ripped, torn, and thrown to the ground, officials say.

The Unitarian "Universalist Congregation" says the discovery was made Sunday.

They say someone pulled down the pride banner that had been hanging in front of the church.

Church and Board President Lynne Lane says the congregation has already started working on a new banner, and now everyone is involved.

"We wanted to use this as a teachable moment and what we plan to do is to take our banner, give it to the Sunday school director, our religious education director to use it as a teachable moment and the children made signs and our first unitarian principle is the worth and dignity of every person," Lane says.

They are currently designing a new banner and hope to have it up within the next month.