Keswick church stripped of silverware and cash

The church's vestry was broken into

A church is relying on neighbouring parishes to keep services running after it was entirely stripped of silverware.

Chalices used for mass, along with £1,200 of cash, was taken from St John's Church in Keswick, Cumbria.

The break-in is believed to have taken place between Sunday night and the following morning.

The Reverend Charles Hope urged those responsible to "examine their consciences" and return a "part of Keswick's history".

Damage was discovered at about 09:00 GMT on Monday when a worker arrived to open the church.

They found the vestry had been forcibly entered and vital pieces of silverware removed.

The church was home to "historic" silverware

"I thought 'oh dear', to put it politely, and then started to think about what we needed to do," Mr Hope, of the Diocese of Carlisle, said.

"My colleague discovered the door had been bashed open - all the church silver, they have cleared out".

Two large chalices used for Holy Communion, and three chalices used for smaller services, were among the silverware stolen.

Church services have been able to continue, but only after venues from the diocese donated their silverware. None of the items will be kept on site.

Mr Hope said: "It's awful but we have had help from other churches.

"This time, the largest church is supported by the smallest church in the diocese - and we are using the silver which hasn't been used for years".

Mr Hope said the community had been "appalled" but that comments left on social media were "incredibly supportive".

Cumbria Police is investigating the theft and has urged anyone with information to contact the force.

"Please examine your conscience and return the silver because it has a practically minimal scrap value", Mr Hope said.

"Historic artefacts are hard to sell without problems, and it relates to the Keswick Arts and Crafts Movement, part of the history of Keswick".