Sentimental Bible Unrecovered from Church Despite Theft Charge

Law enforcement officials report that a Bible described as “significantly sentimental” has not been recovered from a church, even though a man has been charged in connection with its theft. The volume was taken from St Peter’s Church, located in St Albans, on November 15. A male individual, aged 57, is scheduled to make an appearance at St Albans Magistrates’ Court on January 10. The Bible contains an inscription on its front pages, dedicating it to Brenda Chant, who was previously a member of the church’s congregation. Detective Constable Aaron Golley stated: “I’d like to thank the public for their response to our appeals, which was incredibly helpful in our investigation.” He added: “However, the Bible remains outstanding and we want to return it to its rightful owners as soon as possible.” The full inscription states: “Presented to St Peter’s Church, St Albans, in memory of Brenda Marion Chant, 1911-2012, a committed and active member of St Peter’s Church, wife of former churchwarden David Chant. Dedicated 21st September 2014.” In a related development earlier this year, a report released jointly by Historic England and the National Police Chiefs’ Council underscored the potential for a rise in thefts of valuable heritage and cultural artifacts, attributing this risk to the impact of increasing inflation on their market value. The report further noted: “When items are stolen from our historic buildings and cultural sites, it impacts the communities who enjoy those spaces.” Information regarding news from Beds, Herts, and Bucks is accessible via BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. This material is copyrighted by BBC in 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Further details regarding its external linking policy are available.