Church congregation in shock after thieves steal priceless medieval stained glass window

A congregation in Cambridgeshire have been left in shock following the theft of a priceless medieval stained glass window from their church.

The seven hundred year old window had been restored just six months ago in the St Mary & St Michael Church in Trumpington.

The community raised £10,000 for the glass to be restored after it was found in a box in the vicarage roof.

The priceless pieces of glass were originally part of the church's grand 'East Window', but when it was restored they were removed and were subsequently forgotten about.

The church's late Warden, Clare Bartlett, found the pieces and started fundraising to have them restored. Her vision was realised but, sadly, she never saw the end result. Clare died of cancer before the project was complete.

The theft wasn't discovered until Sunday morning just as the church service was about to start.

The thieves had removed the large central panel leaving only three smaller ones intact.

The glass was fixed onto the inside of the window, so whoever took it must have entered and exited the church using the main door.

Cambridgeshire police have released CCTV footage of a person they want to trace.

The person can be seen going in and out of the church a number of times between 6pm and 7.30pm on Saturday 20th February.

Wearing a distinctive black cape, the person eventually leaves the church with what appears to be a large object under their arm.

Anyone with information about the window should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111 or visit https://crimestoppers-uk.org/

And at Old Weston near Huntingdon lead thieves have struck twice within a couple of months stripping the roof off from St Swithin's Church.

Click below to watch Stuart Leithes' report.