“It usually is on the altar,” said Jude Lucas, a member of the church for over 20 years. “The church members were really upset that the cross was not there.”
The cross, with its mosaic inlays, is more than just a symbol of faith for the congregation. It has a rich history, having survived a fire following the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Originally from Stanford University’s chapel, it was later discovered amidst the rubble and given to the architect working on St. James’s structure by Leland Stanford, founder of Stanford University, congregants said.
“Even the precious items that define the congregation are being stolen from them. They’re heartbroken,” said Alexander Rynerson, another member of the church.
The thief reportedly broke one of the windows of the church to steal the cross.
For many members who have been attending the church since they were young, having their cross stolen feels like a rejection of their attempts to reach out to the community and be open, trusting and welcoming.
St. James has long been involved in the community, they said, with a food bank that operates on Thursday mornings and other activities to help those in need.
“It has been a real blow to them,” Lucas said. “We’re hoping and praying that the cross returns to us safe and in one piece.”
In response to the theft, the church has covered its windows with wood and is considering enhancing its security measures.
“We’re doing research now on some type of a security system that can be installed in the church as quickly as possible,” said Lucas.
Break-ins have been occurring since the pandemic started. The church is looking for a long-term solution.
“Our long-term solution is a security system,” Lucas said. “We’ve alerted the sheriff and they’re doing patrols, which has been really great. We also have our facilities person who does walkthroughs at different times in the evening.”
Church members said A GoFundMe page will be set up to raise funds for the church’s security, as its congregation is small and does not have a lot of funds.
“We would love to see religious iconography and artifacts protected,” Rynerson said. “We are working to raise funds, finding a way to fund a private security company to patrol the campus because that’s the only solution we can see.”
The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department is now investigating the theft.
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