Police find historic chalice

The chalice was about to be taken overseas

A 400-year-old silver chalice, stolen from a church in Leicestershire six years ago, has been recovered.

The communion cup, made in 1575, was taken by burglars from St Peter's Church, in Market Bosworth, in 1997.

The congregation had given up hope of seeing it again and replaced it with a modern replica.

But now detectives in the port of Harwich, Essex, have recovered the Tudor relic just as it was about to be taken out of the country along with other stolen goods.

We don't believe in stashing these things away in a safe

Reverend John Plant

The rector of St Peter's, the Reverend John Plant, said everyone was delighted by the surprise find.

He said: "We were just amazed... when it was stolen, the police told us that there was every chance we would not see it again."

Reverend Plant said the chalice was not damaged but it was badly tarnished.

When police hand it back to the church later in the week, the chalice will be cleaned and then returned to use as a communion cup.

Upgraded security

Mr Plant added: "It should be used... we don't believe in stashing these things away in a safe."

It is likely the church will now be forced to repay about £1,500 to its insurance company, which paid for the replica.

Other objects stolen from the church in 1997, including two other chalices and a silver plate, have not been recovered.

Reverend Plant said security at the church had since been upgraded.