St Hibald Church in the peaceful village of Ashby de la Launde near Sleaford is preparing to strengthen its security provisions following substantial theft earlier this week. The incident, disclosed by the Lincolnshire Police on Monday afternoon, involved the theft of several precious items. This includes a sizable wooden statue, thought to represent St Francis of Assisi, a chair with over a century’s history, and a prayer stool. Reverend Mark Kennard, who has carried out eight years of service as the priest-in-charge, conveyed deep sorrow and equated the theft to the loss of a cherished family relic. The revelation of the theft came about after a church member discerned that the padlock on the external gate had been removed. Reverend Kennard accentuated the emotional distress caused, asserting that the thieves had desecrated a place of worship. The Church is appealing to the local community to maintain a sharp watch, especially for the possibility of the stolen articles being listed for sale online. As the Church comes to terms with this violation of trust, efforts are being made to introduce further security measures to safeguard its valued belongings.
The account was made available by The Lincoln Post, adapted from original reporting by www.bbc.com.
