Police investigating thefts from two historic Powys churches

Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed that they are investigating robberies at two Powys churches which took place over the weekend.

Both St David's Church Whitton and St Mary's Church Pilleth were the target of thieves this weekend.

The two churches in Radnorshire are thought to have been targeted sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said that the investigation was still at an early stage and could not give any more details at this time.

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According to unconfirmed reports thieves stole “cash from safes” that they had “broken into”.

The thefts have been met with revulsion by members of the local community with one person described the thieves as “the lowest of the low” and another added “How horrendous, what kind of world are we living in?”

This is the second time St Mary’s church in Pilleth has been targeted in the last six months, after the 14th Century church near Knighton was the target of two thefts in December which saw the removal of coping stones from a wall which would was estimated to cost thousands of pounds to replace.

The church has been based at the site for centuries with the current structure dating mainly from the 13th century.

Its tower dates from the 14th century, and its single bell from around 1450.

The church was damaged during the 1402 Battle of Pilleth, which saw Owain Glyndŵr defeat the English forces of Lord of the March Edmund Mortimer and is mentioned in Shakespeare’s Henry IV part one.