Winnipeg church stained-glass window smashed, religious items stolen in break-in: police

Police say several unique communion plates and cups were stolen from a downtown Winnipeg church last month, and authorities are turning to the public for help.

The Winnipeg Police Service says a thief or thieves broke into the All Saints’ Anglican Church on Broadway Avenue and Osborne Street – either on July 29 or 30 – by throwing a large rock through a stained-glass window.

Police estimate the damage at over $3,000.

They say the items stolen are made of silver or pewter, and that most are inscribed with religious lettering or symbols. Police add they have sentimental and religious meaning, on top of their monetary value.

“Silver chalices and silver cups and plates. Silver pitchers that we use for baptism. All of our silver trays, was taken,” said Reverend Rob Schoeck, rector of All Saints’ Anglican.

“We use them every week in worship. We use them to hold our bread and our wine, the sacred elements of our worship service.

“They were donated by parishioners in memory of loved ones, for special occasions. So they carry a significance that is deeper than the monetary value. It’s part of a narrative, the fabric of this parish.”

Police say they have yet to identify a suspect or suspects.

“We deal with this on a daily basis, in or around the Osborne area,” said WPS Cst. Claude Chancy.

“We allocate those resources as need be, to be able to better cover those areas.

“Those concerns have been brought up by the community, business and residential alike.”

Despite feeling “very shocked and upset,” Reverend Schoeck feels it’s an indication there’s need in the community, that people are suffering.

“This wasn’t just an act of vandalism. This was somebody in desperation,” he said.

“To push someone to move to do this kind of act against a church shows that there’s really some need out there that needs to be met, and we could be doing more as a community to continue to support people.”

Winnipeggers in the area were not surprised the church was broken into because of the neighbourhood it’s in.

“No, ’cause there’s a lot of break-ins,” Eric Harper told CityNews.

“Multiple businesses have been shut down in the neighbourhood,” added Hitanshu Patel.

Reverend Schoeck is approaching the entire situation with grace and understanding.

“Forgiveness and love is at the heart of all that we do and it doesn’t wipe away the pain that we’re feeling, it doesn’t negate that experience by any means, but we also understand that being a person is complicated and what we experience in the world can be difficult,” he said.

The WPS major crimes unit is investigating and asking anyone with information to call 204-986-6219 or anonymously at Crime Stoppers 204-786-TIPS.