BURGLARS who targeted a village church have left the community feeling violated, the warden has said.

Several pieces of silver were stolen from a safe inside St Mary’s Church in Gainford, between Barnard Castle and Darlington, last week.

The items taken include three chalices, a ciborium used for storing bread and a wafer box, which are of high sentimental value and are used weekly during the Sunday service.

Sue Taylor, a church warden at St Mary’s, who has lived in Gainford for more than forty years, is saddened by the theft.

“Last Monday another church warden noticed that the vestry door was open and thought it was strange, she poked her head in and everything seemed fine so the room was locked up as usual,” she said.

“It wasn’t until the following Sunday when we heard a cry from the vestry as she opened the safe and realised it was empty.

“We managed to carry out the Sunday service as usual using a spare chalice which is kept elsewhere, but we didn’t want to alarm or worry our congregation so we didn’t tell them.”

Mrs Taylor contacted the police immediately after the service on Sunday (September 28). Officers are now investigating the burglary.

She added: “The items are very special to us and it’s so sad that we may not see them again.

“We feel violated to think that somebody has been in and stolen these from the church.

“We aren’t sure how much money they are worth but they are of huge sentimental value. Most of the items are engraved and some of the pieces were given to the church in memory of someone who has passed away.”

Mrs Taylor believes the burglary has been carried out by thieves who have some knowledge of churches and silver.

“I don’t think it was anyone who comes to church because we know them so well and they have been coming for so long.

“I am not very hopeful that we will get them back because I just think they have been taken by somebody who does this sort of thing and knows what to do with them.”

St Mary’s church is open most days, and is busier than usual on a Monday when residents come to drop off food for the a food bank in Evenwood.

Anybody with information should call police on 101 and ask for Emma McCabe of Bishop Auckland CID or Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.