A brass eagle lectern gifted to a small Canterbury church more than a century ago has been stolen, prompting an Easter plea from the Anglican bishop for its return.
It comes amid heartbreak over the loss of the dearly loved artefact at the small rural community of Raincliff, in the hills near Timaru.
Locals there discovered in early March that someone had snuck into their church, St David’s, and made off with a treasured possession.
That item was a large lectern, crafted from brass and shaped like an eagle.
It was gifted to the church more than a century ago and had always sat at its heart.
Despite that loss, the Anglican Bishop of Christchurch, Right Reverend Peter Carrell, had a message for the thief amid Easter services this week.
“We're certainly happy to forgive the thief,” he told 1News.
“But with our forgiveness comes an earnest plea. Give us back our taonga.”
Those living near St David’s have been voicing how “sorrowful” they were at the eagle’s loss, due to the special meaning it had for the church.
"With our forgiveness comes an earnest plea. Give us back our taonga,” the Bishop said. (Source: 1News)
Raincliff is an unusual place for the crime, as a quiet outpost far from the main highway.
Raincliff Trust Board chairman Dave Carter said the eagle lectern had been gifted to the church at the time it was first opened, more than 100 years ago, in 1907.
The benefactor was Aurelius Purnell, a local farmer who had suffered from two tragedies. Both his wife and brother had died in separate incidents.
The farmer had decided to donate the brass eagle to the church in memory of them both, Carter said.
“[It] seems a really sad thing for someone to think they've got more right to it than what we have,” he added.
Before it disappeared, the lectern sat in the centre aisle of the church on a plinth. It was frequently used in services, typically holding the Bible for readings.
Remarkably, it’s not the first time it’s gone missing. Local historian Clive Callow said the artefact was first targeted by thieves in 1986, prompting a long search.
“The church itself was inundated by a big flood that year, and unfortunately, some ratbags came and stole the eagle later on,” he explained.
Thankfully, after some publicity, it showed up again.
“It was returned a year later,” Callow said.
Police are hoping for the public’s help this time around, too.
Senior Sergeant Richard Quested said the investigation had hit a “brick wall”.
“There is only so much we can do following our normal investigation procedures until we get to that sort of dead end, where we do need the public's help,” he said.
There was no security video, and a scene investigation had failed to offer significant clues. “What we need now is for the community to help us find it again,” Quested said.
“So please, if you do know something, come and tell us about it.”
Meanwhile, those responsible for the church are hoping the thief has a change of heart.
Carter described himself as a “bit of an optimist”.
“I've got a sense that I think there's a bit of goodness in everybody,” he said.
“Perhaps their conscience might be pricked at listening to the story and maybe [they’ll] return it.”
An anonymous drop-off would be fine, he said.
“We're not interested in who took it. We just would like it back.”
That was echoed by Martin Stewart, a member of the committee for the nearby Raincliff Camp.
“I feel a bit of compassion there, there’s clearly something going on that makes them act that way and want to do what they do,” he said.
“If someone's stealing from someone else, you know, they're not doing themselves any good, and I think we would want better for them.”
Stewart said the best way to a better life was to “live more honourably”.
“They could start here,” he added.
The Anglican Bishop, meanwhile, has been reflecting on what the Bible holds for moments like this.
“Christ teaches that when we confess our sins and repent, and we come to God seeking forgiveness, God forgives us,” he said this week, shortly after delivering an Easter message.
“The most important thing they can know is that God loves them so much that God forgives all their wrongdoing, and wants to be reconciled with them.”
Similar feelings were expressed by Stewart, who is also a Christian minister.
“If you really want to know what Jesus has to say, you probably need to see who was beside him on the cross,” he said.
“It was a thief.”
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