VOLUNTEERS at Okehampton St James were dismayed by thieves who stole items from the church last week. A communion cloth, costing around £200, and a fire extinguisher were taken from the 14th century church?s chapel sometime on Tuesday, August 21. The mayoral church, which is in East Street and belongs to the town, is kept open during the day so that people can visit, without charge, to enjoy a place of peace and prayer. Doreen Gundry, who is one of the volunteer stewards of the Church of England chapel, said: ?It?s sad that these things happen. Sometimes people have thrown around prayers books and even sprayed paint in the past. ?It is disheartening, we put a lot of work in to make sure it?s nice and clean for people, who are looking to find some peace in there.? Mrs Gundry appealed to people in Okehampton to just pop into the chapel now and again as it is open during the day to see that everything is all right. She said that if there was anything untoward then there was a telephone number in the porch to contact the Rev Stephen Cook. Okehampton police have been informed of the incident.
