Churches Robbed, Communities Devastated

Extra vigilance is paramount

Stealing religious art and artifacts is a business and unscrupulous buyers don’t care how the items are acquired. These sad truths were recently brought home to seven Anglican Churches in the Province of Quebec and one Presbyterian Church just across the border in Ontario. From March until mid April – week after week – thieves managed to break in and steal a large number of valuable stained glass windows and panels; in some instances they also made off with religious artifacts. In one case, the stained glass windows measured some 10 feet in height and dated back to the early 1890’s!

The theft of these historic and irreplaceable stained glass windows has left communities reeling. Parishioners, many having attended their church for decades, are still in a state of shock and disbelief. Who would do such a thing, and why? While these questions remain unanswered, what is certain is that the thieves, for the most part…

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