Rev. Anthony Bailey thought it was a disgusting act.

Sometime overnight last Friday, vandals used the south-side wall of Parkdale United Church as a canvass to provoke hatred.

Scrawled in spray paint, just about two-feet wide, was the word N-----, among other words and tags spanning a width of about 25 feet, Bailey estimated.

"We've never had anything like this happen before. Break-ins, sure, but I've been here for 16 years and never this type of thing," said Bailey, who happens to be the only black United church pastor in Ottawa - the leader of a very diverse congregation that boasts upwards of 80 black people.

The graffiti appeared shortly after signs promoting a special Martin Luther King Day service went up on the church's property.

Police were called and are investigating, but aren't prepared to call it a hate crime just yet, said Const. Chuck Benoit.

Bailey said the church paid for the cleanup the next day. Among other words was a larger scribble of the word "Tupac". The famous rapper with the same name was gunned down in a driveby shooting in 1996.

Fearing it was a sign of things to come, Ottawa Police were present at Sunday's special service that attracted about 500 people.

"We were pleased to have police in our presence," Bailey said. "They offered it just in case. They weren't anticipating there could be something, but they wanted to make sure."

This whole ordeal hit home for Bailey. He and his brother were victims of a hate crime on the streets of Montreal several years ago. They were attacked and Bailey's brother died from knife wounds.

"This was a little bit of a trigger when I saw those words on the wall," he said, "but my faith and my community and the support I've received really holds me up."

Despite the tasteless graffiti, Bailey said he and the congregation have decided to take the high road.

"This happened, yes, but we are undeterred. We work very hard at celebrating our diversity," he said. "Martin Luther King said it best. We live in a great world house and we must learn how to live together and be together."

Police are continuing their investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call 613-236-1222.

Twitter: @mattdaymedia