Island church's pots of sentimental value returned minutes before Sunday service

Yahoo

13-07-2025

Just three minutes before Sunday service began, an Isle of Wight church had their plant pots returned after they had been stolen earlier in the week.
On Tuesday (July 8), several plant pots of sentimental value were taken from outside Newport Congregational Church on Pyle Street.
The pots, which were given to the church to honour a member who had died, were returned this morning (July 13), and restored to pride of place.
Reverend Mark Evans, church leader, said that what was sad, has turned out to be a good news story.
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He said: "He did two trips in his car to return them this morning.
"We were talking about the image of Jesus being a good shepherd and the message of forgiveness.
"The people of the Island came together."
Mark said that he shook the man by the hand, and the church is always happy to provide ongoing support to people in difficulty.
He said: "We get all sorts of people come in with different needs - with food and ministries - that community commitment.
"I easily could have gone to the police, but in my spirit, these pots would come back."