A dog walker chanced upon communion silverware in the grounds of a Keswick church from which it was stolen earlier this year.
The Rev Charles Hope was preparing to take the 8pm service at St John’s on Saturday when he received a call to say that a white plastic bag had been discovered containing two chalices and a ciborium — a large covered cup shaped like a shrine. The bag had been found by a man who lives on Southey Street.
The silverware was among items and £1,200 in cash that was stolen from the church by intruders who had forced entry to the building in February.
Asked if he thought that the burglars had got a conscience and felt guilty about the theft over the Easter holidays, Mr Hope said: “I really don’t know. People have been working in the churchyard in that area where it was found and had not seen a plastic bag and yet there it was.
“I don’t know whether it’s a case of whether they did not want to take these pieces because they were not good enough or whether they just wanted to return them. I think it will give everyone a wonderful surprise.”
