A Reverend says she and her congregation pity thieves who smashed a stained glass window at her church to steal a small amount of cash – and has offered to help them.

A “beautiful” stained glass window at All Saints Church, in Betts Lane, Nazeing, was smashed last month and a donation jar containing loose change was stolen.

The window depicting St Francis of Asissi was donated by a former member of the congregation, who died a decade ago.

Rev. Helen Gheorghiu Gould said the break-in had made the family “very upset”.

She added: “If they came forward, they could be part of the process in restoring community pride, which will be better than when the police knock on the door.”

The stolen money, believed to be about two pounds, was donated by a small number of visitors for church maintenance.

Rev. Gheorghiu Gould added: “The congregation are a bit angry, but the emotion overriding that is pity.

"They need help and we invite them in to ask for it. They must be on hard times spiritually as well as economically.

Burglars stole a 17th century carved oak chest worth more than £4,000, along with £1,000 worth of century-old silver chalices and candlesticks, from the same church in 2010.

The break-in happened between midday on Friday, October 17, and 7am on Sunday, October 19.

Anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area is asked to contact PC Michael King at Loughton Police station on 101.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

For more on this story, see this week's Guardian - out Thursday