THE Team Rector of Sherborne Abbey, the Revd Martin Lee, has expressed his shock and sadness on the theft of £90,000-worth of silver items and the damage inflicted during a break-in on the Abbey overnight on 6-7 August.
Local residents have been asked to envision home CCTV and doorbell cameras for anything that is likely to be relevant. Dorset Police confirmed in an update that enquiries were ongoing, but that no arrests had been made.
The Rector spoke on Tuesday of the Abbey community’s distress. “When a constructing is broken into, it’s an entire violation of the property,” he said. “One thing is sort of clear: they cased the joint, because it were, beforehand. The Abbey is open each day, and they might have had a warm welcome from the people on the door. They were cared for as they got here in, once we now know that their intention was to see how they might steal from us.”
The thieves knew what they were in search of, he said. They took only solid silver: a processional cross, two virges, and a bishop’s crosier. They did not get into the secure, although they inflicted an awesome deal of injury within the attempt. To conceal their entry through the Abbey Close end of the constructing, they cut off the sunshine sensors to the floodlights, and will then operate in darkness.
Sherborne Abbey is renowned specifically for the earliest, considered by some the best, great fan-vaulting in England. A diocesan spokesperson said on Tuesday, “We are deeply saddened to listen to of the theft at Sherborne Abbey, and the damage that has being incurred on one of the vital significant and delightful churches within the diocese and wider Church of England.
“Such actions are deeply upsetting for the community, who’ve lost items of value to each the town and the Abbey. Our thoughts and prayers are with the community at this distressing time.”
The theft had left the Abbey community feeling more vulnerable, the Rector said. “We’re attempting to stop ourselves happening this silly line that claims, someone has been within the vestry at some stage and seen that little secure; have they picked someone’s brains. . . It’s possible that anyone might have been in at any time.
“But one in all the stunning things has been the generosity of individuals. One church has offered us a processional cross to make use of until Christmas, and the diocese and our bishops couldn’t have been more supportive. These things show the most effective in people.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at dorset.police.uk, or by phoning 101, quoting occurrence number 55240120614. Alternatively, the independent charity Crimestoppers may be contacted anonymously online at crimestoppers-uk.org, or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.
