The Rev Stephen Brown said the church was stunned by the theft of an item which held great sentimental value, but would fetch little in trade value: "It represents the church to which we belong – its wider value is as a symbol.

"I would imagine it was taken for its market value, for what they can sell it somewhere.

"It's sad and despicable really that someone would steal from churches."

On May 7 last year, an antique altar cross decorated with four ruby cabochon stones was also taken from the church, later to appear on eBay after it was bought at a carboot sale in Wetherby for £40.

The 19th century brass cross was spotted by an eagle-eyed Ripley villager while searching for Staffordshire pottery cottages. The cross, thought to be 150 years old and worth £2,000, had reached a bidding price of £120.

The distinctive Bishop's chair stands at four-foot tall and two-foot wide, and is made from solid oak, making it too heavy for one person to carry or transport.

The church has been extremely busy in the past week thanks to warmer weather, and Rev Brown is hopeful that someone may have seen what happened.

"We are hoping that people will come forward," he said. "That's the strange thing - you're not left in the church very long on your own. Theft is bad at any time – but from a church it's worse. I think it's high on the list of things people are quite disgusted with.

"Even if people are not church goers they find it deeply offensive. It could help us to pin down when the chair was still there, and also if anyone saw anything suspicious, please let us know."

The chair is described as elaborately carved, with two lions supporting a pierced crown with a rose pattern below the crown. The sides and back are carved with scrolled leaf and medallion pattern, and padded with red leather.

Anyone with information should contact PC Rotchell at Harrogate police on 0845 6060247.

l MEMBERS of the parish church in Ripley are undertaking a grand challenge to commemorate the Year of the Saints.

They will set off on Tuesday, May 13 for a 45-mile trek across St Cuthbert's Way, and to give them a send off Ripley residents are invited to join them on a three mile taster walk around the village this Sunday.

The parish walk will set off from outside Ripley All Saints' Church at 1.30pm, and will take in three miles of the village before returning to the church.

For more information contact John Vauvelle on 01423 771637.

ruby.kitchen@ypn.co.uk