TAUNTON Minster vicar was left feeling “horrible” and “violated” after an overnight break-in in which the cash register and donation box were taken.

Vicar Rev Tobi Osmond found out about the break-in this morning (Wednesday, January 4) when he found glass and lead on the floor of the Minster. 

Somerset County Gazette: The window was then boarded upThe window was then boarded up (Image: Somerset County Gazette)

Rev Osmond said: “I came in this morning around 8.30am and the coffee shop manager said ‘did you realise we had a break-in?’

“The alarm was activated. There was a massive hole in the window and glass and lead everywhere. We tried to clean up as much as possible.

“They took the cash register, which is now being repaired, and they broke into the donations box as well. There wasn’t very much, it is just the distraction and chaos that was caused today.

“Police were wonderful and really quick to respond.

Somerset County Gazette:

“You feel slightly violated, to do it to a church feels wrong on a different level. We are not making a lot of money and what money we make goes back into our mission in the town. It does feel horrible.”

The Somerset County Gazette has approached Avon and Somerset Police for comments.