CARING Pershore churchgoers have dug deep to more than double the £400 of charity cash which was stolen from the town’s Baptist Church.
A staggering £800 has now flooded in to the church in donations and pledges following the theft in an act described as ‘going far beyond what I’d hoped’ by the church’s minister.
Rev Mark Jennings spoke to the Observer following the theft on Saturday when a cash box, containing £400 raised from two concerts, was stolen from the church.
The events were held to raise money for a project in the Ugandan village of Kabubbu to help support families battling poverty.
Musical groups including schools, a barbershop quartet, brass band and jazz group came together for the worthy cause.
After the concert had finished it’s believed a woman, who walked into the church in a ‘bad way’ according to Rev Jennings, may have stolen the cash after waiting in the wings.
He described the response from local people as ‘humbling’ and hopes the congregation forgives the woman who may have stolen the cash.
Police have released a description of a woman they are looking to speak to.
She is described as white, aged between 35 to 50 years-old and about 5ft tall. She was also wearing a green woolly hat at the time of the theft.
“We had a woman come in off the street into the church in a bad way and asking for a prayer,” Rev Jennings said.
“The concert organiser put her bag down to hug one of the musicians. Within 20 seconds the contents of the cash box had been lifted.”
Rev Jennings said both he and other members of the congregation had felt ‘anger, frustration and the like’.
“The goal of the money raised was to be given to a project in a village in Uganda to help families battling poverty.
“We’ve asked members of the church to respond by donating and pledging money. Pledges and donations by the following morning had reached £800.
“The Church is obviously undoubtedly disappointed by what happened, but as well as donations from local people, churches from elsewhere have responded and sent donations and the money keeps on rising.
“I’m humbled by it all; it’s gone beyond what I’d hoped,” he added.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.
