[CPProt.net] Scotland: Cathedral hit in midnight raid

[MSN CPPnet]

Cathedral hit in midnight raid 

June 1, 2005

KURT BAYER 


AN ORGANISED gang has escaped with a haul of centuries-old "irreplaceable"
church artefacts in a midnight raid on Dunkeld Cathedral. 

The thieves overcame a series of obstacles before using long ladders to gain
access to the building though a window high on its eastern end. 

Once inside, they moved through to the Chapter House museum where a
collection of pewterware items were displayed in a reinforced glass case. 

They shattered the glass and made off with nine pieces including a drinking
quaich dated 1693 that was used as part of a fountain at The Cross in
Dunkeld. 

Also taken were three pewter communion flagons inscribed "Dunkeld 1745",
three 18th- century pewter communion plates, and a cast-bronze beadle's bell
with a wooden handle that was used in the cathedral from the 17th century. 

The gang left behind pieces that they either could not carry or were not
valuable to them. 

David Arbuthnott, the session clerk of the Perthshire cathedral and chairman
of its museum, said: "This is sickening and we are all very upset. 

"I think this was a well planned job carried out to order. I suspect the
stolen items will be out of the country by now." 

Tayside Police are appealing for witnesses and are especially interested in
speaking to anyone who may have seen a van parked nearby. 

They fear the items may be offered for sale on the internet and have asked
online bargain hunters to be on the look-out. 

Col Arbuthnott was horrified to discover the break-in early on Sunday
morning. 

He said: "It happened on Saturday night-Sunday morning, so people going to
church found the smashed case and smashed window. Everybody is very upset.
It's not somebody skylarking about on a Saturday night. It's a planned
operation. 

"They must have used something like a pickaxe [to shatter the display case]
because it's very tough glass." 

The remaining exhibits from the case have been removed for safekeeping, the
cathedral has been secured and the museum reopened to the public. 

While the items were covered by insurance, Col Arbuthnott said: "Insurance
is academic because they are irreplaceable." 

He added that an antiques dealer had advised that a specialist in church
plate will have to be called in, but it is estimated that the losses will
run into the "thousands". 

A police spokesman said: "It's certainly been quite specialised in what
they've done. They have specifically targeted what they went for." 

Police say that the theft took place some time between 6:40pm on Saturday
and 9:35am on Sunday. 

The cathedral has a rich history. In 1560, it suffered badly in the
Reformation, and anything considered to be remotely "Popish" was ruined. 

The chancel was repaired and reroofed in 1600 to serve as Dunkeld's parish
church. 

On 21 August, 1689, during the first Jacobite uprising, the Jacobites
attacked government forces based in Dunkeld. 

During a long and bloody battle, much of the town, including the repaired
parts of the cathedral, were burned down. 

The site has been reserved as holy ground since 730AD when Celtic
missionaries, known as Culdees, built the first monastery on the idyllic
site beside the river Tay. 

The current cathedral is a mixture of both Gothic and Norman influence,
having been built in stages over a period of nearly 250 years between 1260
and 1501.