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The stolen St Patrick statue |
Congregation puts its faith in St Anthony to find St Patrick
Police probe theft as statue of patron saint disappears before special Mass
MISSING: One patron saint of Ireland, last seen in Soho.
As the western world donned over-sized Guinness hats and slaked their thirst in the name of a 4th-century Christian missionary on Tuesday, churchgoers at the historic St Patrick’s Church in Soho Square were mourning the theft of the church’s namesake statue – stolen the morning before a special saint’s day Mass.
The three-feet high figure of the holy man, which holds a shamrock out in blessing, has a habit of disappearing. This is the third time a statue of the saint has vanished from the church.
An identical piece went astray five years ago in similar circumstances.
Police – and St Anthony, the patron saint of lost things – have been called in to investigate.
Church workers discovered the effigy was gone from its altar on Monday morning as they began preparing for Tuesday’s special Mass.
Monica Shea, the church’s development officer, said: “We couldn’t believe they picked
St Patrick.
“A lot of people are quite shocked. Someone came up to one of the girls who works for the church, and she cried. So people have been quite affected.”
She added: “We’re praying to St Anthony that St Patrick will be returned.”
Historically St Patrick was no stranger to abduction. He was actually born in Wales but kidnapped by Irish raiders when he was 16.
Parish priest Father Alexander said: “Someone obviously knew we were going to have a St Patrick’s Day service.”
He added that the other two stolen statues were never returned, and eventually had to be replaced through donations from benefactors.
Hannah Bannister, who works as a PA for the priest, suggested thieves had picked the statues to coincide with the saint’s day.
“People realise that’s our patron saint. It went missing on a feast day, just before the Mass,” said Ms Bannister.
“It’s just bizarre that anyone would do something like that. Maybe they’re planning to return it after the service,” said one visitor to the church.
Despite its missing saint, the church, which Father Alexander describes as “a focal point for the Irish diaspora”, was packed out for Tuesday’s Mass.
The priest blessed pieces of shamrock in commemoration of the saint to distribute to churchgoers, although visitors had to be content with small cards displaying the missing statue.
Police confirmed that a green, white and gold statue had been reported to them as stolen from the church between 10am and 11.30am on March 16. |
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