Ecclesiastical-insured cathedral hit by latest metal theft

Ecclesiastical-insured Manchester Cathedral has suffered the latest incident in a string of metal thefts.

Thieves stole a silver cross from the cathedral last week, as well as stealing metal worth thousands of pounds last year.

The cathedral has been hit in the pocket by the thefts, as some stolen metal fell below the value of the £2,500 excess and was not claimed for.

Any further thefts are likely to be paid for by money from collections, according to the dean of Manchester, the very reverend Rogers Govender.

Figures from church insurer Ecclesiastical show that 2011 was its worst year on record for metal thefts, with 2,500 claims.

An Ecclesiastical spokesman denied that the cathedral is now unable to claim on its insurance following the thefts.