Thieves have stolen lead from the roof of Chesterfield's iconic Crooked Spire Church, causing thousands of pounds of damage and destroying part of its unique history, police have said. The theft at the Church of St Mary and All Saints occurred between the evening of 26 September and the morning of 28 September, according to Derbyshire's Rural Crime Team.
Photographs released by police show part of the roof stripped bare, exposing the underlying wooden panelling. The incident is the second theft at the church in two months, following the theft of four lead downpipes from the north side of the building in late August.
The Church of St Mary and All Saints, a Grade I listed building since 1971, is known worldwide for its twisted and leaning spire. In 1994, it became the UK's only representative in the Association of the Twisted Spires of Europe.
In a social media statement, Derbyshire Police said: 'This will have a significant impact on the church by destroying part of its unique history. It will also cost thousands to replace, which diverts funds away from the community.' The force urged anyone with information to come forward, adding: 'Every detail, no matter how small, could help bring those responsible to justice.'
Data obtained by the Countryside Alliance earlier this year revealed that churches were targeted in 3,758 thefts and burglaries from 2022 to 2024. Claire Walker, chief executive of the National Churches Trust, said: 'Churches sadly bear an additional burden after any attack, as repair costs fall squarely on the shoulders of the congregation and local people to pay for. A new roof after a lead theft can set a church back tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds.'
