St Mary's church window worth £15,000 smashed in raid
- Published
Thieves have smashed a unique stained glass window in a church which will cost £15,000 to repair.
The window at St Mary's church in Shrewsbury was made in the 16th century and features a rare collection of continental glass.
Just £40 was taken in the break-in. It is the second time thieves have targeted the church in six months.
The Churches Conservation Trust described it as "senseless vandalism just to acquire some loose change".
The rare collection of glass is St Mary's "great treasure", the trust said.
Robert Milton, of the trust, said the window would be "somewhat harder to repair and more expensive primarily because of the colour of the glass".
Last time the church was broken into the only damage was to a plain porch window after the offenders were disturbed.
But this time, the thieves were able to get inside and broke the window to gain access to the vestry.
It is thought the intruders got in on Tuesday night but the damage was not discovered until contractors went to the building on Thursday.