THE Team Rector of Sherborne Abbey, the Revd Martin Lee, has expressed his shock and sadness at the theft of £90,000-worth of silver items and the damage inflicted during a break-in at the Abbey overnight on 6-7 August.
Local residents have been asked to check home CCTV and doorbell cameras for anything that might 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 building is broken into, it is a complete violation of the property,” he said. “One thing is quite clear: they cased the joint, as it were, beforehand. The Abbey is open every day, and they would have had a warm welcome from the people on the door. They were cared for as they came in, when we now know that their intention was to see how they could steal from us.”
The thieves knew what they were looking for, he said. They took only solid silver: a processional cross, two virges, and a bishop’s crosier. They failed to get into the safe, although they inflicted a great deal of damage in the attempt. To conceal their entry through the Abbey Close end of the building, they cut off the light sensors to the floodlights, and could then operate in darkness.
Sherborne Abbey is renowned in particular for the earliest, considered by some the finest, great fan-vaulting in England. A diocesan spokesperson said on Tuesday, “We are deeply saddened to hear of the theft at Sherborne Abbey, and the damage that has being incurred on one of the most significant and beautiful churches in the diocese and wider Church of England.
“Such actions are deeply upsetting for the community, who have lost items of value to both 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 trying to stop ourselves going down this stupid line that says, someone has been in the vestry at some stage and seen that little safe; have they picked someone’s brains. . . It’s possible that anyone could have been in at any time.
“But one of the lovely things has been the generosity of people. One church has offered us a processional cross to use until Christmas, and the diocese and our bishops couldn’t have been more supportive. These things show the best 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 can be contacted anonymously online at crimestoppers-uk.org, or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.