VALUABLE flagstones have been stolen from a Grade II listed church in Greater Manchester, just weeks before it celebrates its bicentenary.

More than 50 flagstones were ripped from the churchyard path at St George’s, Tyldesley, in the diocese of Manchester, on Thursday.

A churchwarden, Iain Hodcroft, said that the damage had been considerable, but thanked neighbours and local businesses for their support. More than a dozen volunteers had come to offer their help, and between them were able to make the walkway safe.

Some of the York stone had been left in the vicinity, presumably for the thieves to collect later, Mr Hodcroft said. Between them, the volunteers, who included a local builder, had restored the remaining stones to their original position, and made the path safe.

“People were coming in, saying how upset and angry they were,” Mr Hodcroft said, but stoicism won out: “You have to get on and make the best of it you can.”

A local councillor, James Fish, has started a JustGiving page. As of Tuesday morning, more than £2000 had been donated to help to repair the damage, which Mr Fish estimates as likely to require about £20,000.

He told the Church Times that he hopes that that the path can be restored in time for the church’s bicentenary celebrations in September.

On Monday, the risk-management director at the specialist church insurers Ecclesiastical, Jo Whyman, advised churches to review their security measures, and to consider marking stones forensically as a deterrent to thieves.

“Sadly, incidents where churches are being targeted by thieves are all too common, with items such as silver, cash, statues, artwork, furniture, and even paving stones, as with this recent incident at St George’s, being stolen,” Mr Whyman said.

“In many cases, this historic stonework is irreplaceable, meaning that not only is there the financial cost associated with replacing the materials: the history linked to their location is lost for future generations as well.”

Last week’s theft was not the first of this type that the church had experienced. About seven years ago, a large quantity of York stone had been lifted from the path, Mr Hodcroft said.

In December 2022, two men received given custodial sentences for their part in a series of similar crimes across north-west England. A third received a suspended sentence (News, 6 January 2023).