Yes, once, a great many years ago, the church plate had been taken away in the night.

But it was recovered: the thief had taken it to the top of the hill and thrown it into the dewpond there, no doubt intending to take it out and dispose of it at some more convenient time.

But it was found, and had ever since then been kept safe at the vicarage.

Nothing of value to tempt a man to steal was kept in the church.

He had never locked it, but once in his fifty years it had been locked against him by the churchwardens.