After being broken into four nights in a row, the Heard Chapel AME Church has had their holy communion pitcher stolen - and the congregation wants it back.

Reverend Leonard Santucci contacted The Royal Gazette after the entire congregation was forced to forgo communion on Sunday, an event which has not occurred in his eight years as pastor at the church.

"We've had break-ins on four consecutive nights," he said. After break-ins occurred on September 30 and October 1, the church contacted the Police.

Police visited the church on October 2, and the church was broken into yet again that night and once more the following night.

A variety of items were taken, including a ceiling fan with lights, a toaster oven, two electric kettles and a frying pan. All were brand new and still in their boxes.

The thief also took odd things such as napkins and toilet paper, Dr. Santucci added. "It's an uncommon thief to say the least."

However the thing of greatest value was the communion pitcher.

Made of silver, Dr. Santucci said it might be confused with a common water jug. "But it is a holy communion pitcher consecrated for a sacred, symbolic Christian service and we want it back."

The pitcher can be left on the doorstep of the church or elsewhere on the property, he said.

"We want it back with all due haste because of its value to us in terms of our congregational worship. The congregation is very much aware (of the break-ins), and they are most upset with the theft of the pitcher.

"We are most challenged by the fact that people's sense of lawlessness would enable them to desecrate the House of God," he said.

"Obviously there is no respect for a thing deemed to be holy and sacred, or for social and community organisations.

"We are appealing for the pitcher. We want it back."