The church on Chadwick Road was an easy target for heartless robbers.
“Since the scaffolding was put up last month it has made it a magnet for local thieves who are up to no good,” said Rev Waring.
“On Sunday people broke into the church and took the communion table, candlesticks and brass vases.”
The exasperated Reverend said: “I’d like to get the point across to these people, that there is nothing left in St Andrew’s to steal, so there is no point in breaking in.
“The things they are stealing are only worth a couple of pounds, but they are worth thousands to the church and many of the things stolen on Sunday were given in remembrance of loved ones.
“We just hope that someone will take notice, and I would appeal to them to realise they are getting nothing compared to the pain they’re causing.”
SalfordOnline.com’s three-part documentary series on the historical treasures to be found at St Andrew’s has been one of the news website’s most popular.
Watch: St Andrew’s Church, Eccles – Part 1: Windows and Angels
Watch:St Andrews Church, Eccles – Part 2: Arthur Handley Clayton
Watch:St Andrew’s, Eccles – Part 3: Bats in the Belfry
These kinds of thefts are uncommon nowadays but not unheard of.
In March 2012 SalfordOnline.com reported on a theft at St Mary’s Parish Church on Church Street in Eccles, where unknown offenders smashed a priceless 19th century window to steal a small amount of cash along with tea and biscuits from the church kitchen.
Watch: Thieves smash priceless Eccles church window to steal tea and biscuits
Ironically in that same month in 1990 thieves targeted St Paul’s Church in Little Hulton causing Church Warden Bill Shepherd to call it, “a sacrilege”.
Thieves broke in by removing a leaded window in the church porch in what seems a pretty determined raid.
The church organist was still inside the church practising when they entered, he had left the key to the church in the front door but didn’t hear anything because of the sound of the organ.
The raiders made their way to the vestry where there were two church safes containing rare silver plates and chalices dating from 1760.
One safe was pushed to the floor causing a huge dent in the vestry but were unable to open it.
Undeterred they attempted to roll the safe towards the church door, sadly in doing this they badly damaged the silver inside the safe.
Finding that they couldn’t open it the thieves stole a small amount of cash and a miniature communion set which was later found strewn around the churchyard.
“To try and steal the communion plates and chalices and damage them is sacrilegous,” added Mr Shepherd.
Image: St Andrew’s Church, Eccles, via geograph.org
 Comment by Spiral scratch ( member ) 13th April 2015You’ve got to feel sorry for the decent people in Eccles,because it’s being taken over by thieving,feral,rat boy scrotes and their vile inbred families.. |
