A church in Smith’s is appealing to the public for any information which will lead to the recovery of a “large” safe which was stolen last week.

A member of St Mark’s Anglican Church on South Road said the place of worship was broken into between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

In a Facebook post, she said: “Our large, heavy safe was taken along with its contents.

“Police are investigating. We do not keep cash on the property, ever, however, we kept items that are part of our church history and heritage, and items important for our church ceremonies in the safe.

“Items like our christening shell, and communion cup. We deeply wish to have these sentimentally precious items returned.

“Please help us recover our stolen heritage.”

Archdeacon John Stow told The Royal Gazette that the safe contained items of “historical value to Bermuda”.

He added: “We think the thieves wanted cash because the safe was all they took.

“They didn’t take anything else from within the church. But there was no money in the safe.”

He said most of the items which were in the safe were made of silver, including three silver offertory plates which had several biblical phrases inscribed around them.

He said they featured the phrase “Don’t forget to do good.”

He added: “Each had verses from the Bible, so this is a little poignant that the thieves are now stealing from the church.”

One of the offertory plates was presented to the church by J Scott Pearman on his 84th birthday.

The safe contained a baptismal spoon which was presented to the church in 1898 by Mr Pearman. It also contained a plate used for holy communion, which the church had since 1746.

Archdeacon Stow said: “That item is about 300 years old in the church and it wouldn’t fetch a huge amount for its silver.

“But sadly it is part of the history of Bermuda.”

He said the “item we will miss the most” is a unique silver cup which is used for holy communion.

The cup was presented to the church when it was formerly Harris Bay Church, in 1676.

“It is of immense historical value and so the value here in these items is really in Bermuda’s history,” he added.

“Clearly, we are hoping that when the thieves open the safe they might just ditch it and people will find it an return it to us,” he said.

Residents condemned the act on Facebook as one commenter urged the perpetrators to place the safe at a location for the retrieval of the items which she said “are precious to the church and its parishioners”.

Another resident said the act was “heartbreaking for our church” as the items held historical significance.

She added: “These items are easily identified so pray that someone will know something.

“As a church, the members do so much outreach to the immediate community. I pray that whoever is responsible is mindful that God sees everything.”