A rare 1548 English edition of the Paraphrases of Erasmus has been stolen from St Mary’s Church in Chediston, Suffolk, after apparently being prised from a locked display case.

The book is especially rare because many copies were lost or destroyed after Edward VI ordered them placed in parish churches in 1547.

Rev Dr Edmund Smith, curate of St Mary’s, told the BBC the book was an important part of the church’s heritage.

“An item like this is part of our common heritage - they are part of what makes this church this church,” he said.

“They are the tie we have back to generations before us – to lose it, by far, leaves us poorer.”

He described the theft as a “particularly grave sin” and appealed for its return.

“We hope that will weigh on their heart and they will be moved to return it and seek forgiveness, which we will gladly give,” he said.

Catholic commentator Mark Lambert wrote on X that the book had survived “nearly 500 years of English religious upheaval” before being stolen.

"Quite apart from its monetary value, this is exactly the sort of object that really does constitute a piece of England’s common inheritance: not something manufactured for a museum, but a book that has remained in the life of a particular parish while kings, governments, religions and generations came and went," he said.

"Five hundred years of history survived. Let’s hope one thief doesn’t get to write its final chapter."