A 500-Year-Old Treasure Stolen from Suffolk Church
A piece of history has gone missing in Suffolk, England, as a rare 1548 English edition of the Paraphrases of Erasmus was stolen from St Mary’s Church in Chediston, near Halesworth. The theft of this nearly 500-year-old book, which was reportedly prised from a locked display case, has raised concerns about the security of historical artifacts in churches.
The Paraphrases, authored by the Dutch Christian scholar Desiderius Erasmus, were crafted to elucidate parts of the New Testament. Its English translation was commissioned by Catherine Parr, the sixth wife of Henry VIII. In 1547, an edict by Edward VI mandated the placement of these books in every parish church. However, many were lost or destroyed during Mary I’s reign, rendering the Chediston edition particularly rare.
The Rev Dr Edmund Smith, curate of St Mary’s, discovered the absence of the book after a visitor, eager to see this historical artifact, informed him of its disappearance. Reverend Smith expressed his sorrow, saying, “An item like this is part of our common heritage – they are part of what makes this church this church.” He emphasized the book’s significance as a link to past generations, noting that its loss leaves the community poorer.
Highlighting the vulnerability of valuable items in churches, Rev Smith remarked that the Church of England “was never equipped for the modern age of crime.” He pointed out that many sacred objects are left in churches under the assumption that these places are safe havens.
Addressing the thief, Rev Smith appealed for the book’s return, describing the act as a “particularly grave sin.” He added, “We hope that will weigh on their heart and they will be moved to return it and seek forgiveness, which we will gladly give.”
Catholic writer and commentator Mark Lambert reflected on the theft, highlighting the book’s survival through centuries of religious upheaval in England, only to be taken from a tranquil country church. On X, Lambert wrote, “Quite apart from its monetary value, this is exactly the sort of object that really does constitute a piece of England’s common inheritance: not something manufactured for a museum, but a book that has remained in the life of a particular parish while kings, governments, religions and generations came and went.” He hoped that the thief would not mark the end of the book’s storied history.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
