Duplicate ring mistaken for lost Church of Scotland jewellery

The gold ring has an amethyst stone bearing a burning bush and St Andrew's cross

Police investigating the loss of valuable jewellery belonging to the Church of Scotland confused a duplicate ring with the real thing.

The Moderator's official ring went missing at Edinburgh Airport in April.

Inquiries were inconclusive until a city centre jeweller's contacted police saying the ring had been brought there.

However, it emerged the "thief" was actually Reverend Lorna Hood, who will succeed Mr Bogle as Moderator. She was getting a duplicate ring resized.

The kirk had not revealed there was a double of the ring which, as Mrs Hood was having it adjusted to fit her finger, triggered the suspicion of shop staff.

The distinctive gold ring has an amethyst stone bearing a burning bush and St Andrew's cross with the motto "Nec Tamen Consumebatur".

Mrs Hood said: "I thought my official photos as Moderator might end up on Crimewatch or end up with a serial number in front of it.

"I was thinking how it must seem and conclusions that might be drawn. Two suspicious ladies walk into a shop. New Moderator is international jewel thief."

The cross pendant is on a silver link neck chain

Mrs Hood will wear the duplicate ring when she becomes the next Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland when the 2013 General Assembly opens on Saturday.

Police said their inquiries were continuing into the missing ring and also a cross pendant.

The church is offering a four-figure sum of money for information that leads to the return of the jewellery.

The outgoing Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Right Reverend Albert Bogle, said: "I feel disappointed that the Moderatorial ring and cross are no longer in my possession to pass to Lorna our Moderator Designate."

The ring was also stolen from the home of the previous Moderator at Christmas 2010 but the amethyst stone was anonymously returned and the ring was remade.