Thieves stole valuable historic silverware worth approximately £25,000 from St Margaret of Antioch Church in Barley, Hertfordshire, between 15:00 and 16:45 GMT on 7 March 2026. According to BBC, church leaders described the act as a “sacrilege” theft that has deeply shaken the village community.
The stolen pieces reportedly included two chalices, a silver communion flagon, a silver paten used for serving communion bread, and a box of additional silver objects. Officials identified the Barley Chalice, valued at about £15,000, and a James I silver paten worth about £8,000 as the most significant artefacts, dating from 1612 to 1619.
The church’s 94-year-old verger discovered the sacrilege theft and was left shocked. Rector Rev Mark Bridgen said the act was sacrilegious, as the items were not only valuable but also sacred objects used in Christian worship, creating a deep sense of communal loss.
Police stated they were continuing investigations and pursuing multiple lines of enquiry. They noted that rural churches often keep their doors open to the public, although this openness increasingly poses a risk. Authorities appealed for information and urged anyone who witnessed suspicious activity or saw the articles for sale to come forward.