A pair of rare 15th Century oak panels have been stolen from a church in Devon, England.
Police said the panels, each bearing an image of a saint, were stolen in the raid at Holy Trinity Church in Torbryan between August 2 and 9.
A third panel was damaged.
The missing panels were noticed by contracters carrying out an inspection on the disused church.
Dr Neil Rushton of the Churches Conservation Trust said the pieces were completely unique.
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“Mid-15th century, high artistry, and the only worth they have is as an Indigenous part of this church,” he said.
Local resident Katrina Hurford said the theft had come as a shock to the community, which considered the church and its medieval panels of national importance.
“It's survived the Reformation, it's survived revolutions and yet here we are today, 600-odd years on and someone's taken them.”
Devon and Cornwall Police constable Gareth Beynon said it was not yet clear who had carried out the theft.
“It looks like these two panels were targeted. Nothing else has been disturbed in the church,” he said.
The issue of security at historical churches across England is ongoing.
While the government and the church of England provide $4 million in upkeep for the churches, they must be kept open during the day for the public, and there is little security in place.
