Thieves made off with the Victorian mural from St Andrew’s church in Little Steeping, Lincolnshire, last week.

Basil Harwood, 80, who has been its churchwarden for more than 10 years, implied that had the thieves understood the commandment against theft they wouldn’t have stolen the painting. He said: “They clearly didn’t read it when they stole it. And if they did, they obviously didn’t understand it.”

The monetary value of the stolen artworks in not known but Lincolnshire Police said they “have sentimental value to the church and its members”.

Mr Harwood said: “I suspect it was someone who was desperate to get some cash.”