A bronze crucifix that was previously stolen from a churchyard in Newcastle will be rededicated today, to the joy of church congregants.
Valued at £20,000, the statue was stolen from the remembrance garden of All Saints Church in Gosforth, Newcastle, in May 2021.
The crucifix was recovered from a scrapyard and skillfully restored following the overnight attack, BBC News reports.
The Reverend Canon Andrew Shipton was thrilled at the find: "We did fear that this treasured sculpture might never be seen again, so to get to this stage, where it has not only been returned but repaired to such a high standard, is quite remarkable."
The story attracted global attention, with messages of support coming from Australia, Canada, Nigeria, and across the UK.
The statue, originally created by artist Frank Roper, now has “additional security” to ensure this is the end of the debacle.
Generous donations enabled a conservation specialist to restore the crucifix, which had been damaged during the theft.
After being repaired by an expert in Edinburgh, the cross was returned to the church's remembrance garden in October.
The Bishop of Berwick, the Right Reverend Mark Wroe, will rededicate the crucifix as part of a service of thanksgiving.
The restoration and rededication of this significant piece represent a testament to faith and community support in overcoming adversity.