A South West church is reeling after a thief stole a month’s worth of cash donations during a community event. St Augustine’s and Christ Church in Whitchurch and Hengrove suffered the blow when an opportunistic thief made off with money that had been stored in a safe. The donations are usually banked weekly, but due to staff illness, the cash had accumulated over several weeks. It is believed the safe may have been left open, allowing the thief to enter the office undetected and take the funds.
The financial hit comes at a difficult time for the church, which had only managed to break even in 2024. The unexpected loss of funds is set to make this year even more challenging for the parish.
St Augustine’s offers a range of community services including meals, social gatherings, bereavement support, and life assistance for people of all ages. Despite the setback, the church remains committed to serving the local community.
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So far, over £1,600 has been raised through a crowdfunding campaign to help recover the stolen funds.
Reverend Sam Sheppard, the church’s vicar, said, “This church is here to serve the community and it belongs to the community. None of this works without your support. Our financial position was already precarious, having about broken even in 2024, and unfortunately, we’ve been the victim of a theft in February which is going to make this year even harder. So if you can afford to help, it really does make a difference, and every penny goes straight back into your community.”
To support the fundraising effort, donations can be made via the church’s GoFundMe page: St Augustine’s and Christ Church Crowdfunder.