A 9-inch silver altar cross, taken from All Saints’ Church in North Cerney 30 years ago has reappeared on a retired verger’s doorstep with a note saying simply: ‘You know where this belongs’.
The cross, a silver plated piece with a mother of pearl inset, had been a gift to the church from the late Lady Murray, a devoted and much-loved parishioner of All Saints’. Its theft was part of a series of local burglaries where, on one night, thieves broke into the nearby pub and rectory, stealing alcohol, cigarettes, and petrol from cars. They left no trace of the stolen items and for decades the cross was considered lost.
Until 88-year-old Elmore Crump, a retired verger who served All Saints’ for more than 30 years, found the missing cross on his doorstep in a plastic bag one morning.
“I went to put the dog out at 6am and there it was. I couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t there when I went to bed the night before. Whoever returned it must be local. They did it overnight, they knew who I was and they knew where to leave it,” Elmore reflected.
There was no explanation of where the cross had been or why it had been returned, except for a note written in capital letters and attached to the plastic bag.
Elmore said: “I took the cross into the house and spent 3 hours cleaning it. It arrived all black in a plastic bag and I restored it back to silver.
“It’s light, but it’s beautiful. Whoever took it managed to crawl through a tiny window to get inside the sacristy. They could have taken more valuable items, but they only took this little cross. It’s a shame Lady Murray isn’t here to see its return.”
Lady Murray, who died in 2019, donated the cross which was a family heirloom. Her son, Alex Murray, said: “It’s wonderful to see the cross back where it belongs. My mother would have been absolutely thrilled. She loved the church deeply and wanted the cross to have significance beyond our family. Like the whole community, she was distraught when it was stolen.”
The cross is now reinstated on the altar at All Saints’. Churchwarden Mark Tufnell said: “By good fortune, someone decided to return it. It’s a beautiful piece, and the congregation is delighted to have it back. We’re now keeping it locked away in the strongroom when not in use, ensuring it doesn’t suffer the same fate again.”
There is still speculation about the return of the cross. Elmore said: “It’s strange. Whoever took it clearly had second thoughts. But after 30 years, why now?”
Alex said: “I think if the person who took the cross wanted to reveal themselves, they would have come forward when they gave the cross back. They probably have been thinking about returning it for some time. I’m assuming the mystery of the missing cross will remain a mystery, but despite that we are delighted to have it returned to the church.”
News Hub
