MONTICELLO – During the Thanksgiving Day weekend, thieves broke into the performance barn behind St. John’s Episcopal Church in Monticello, stealing 10 pews valued at over $2,000.

“Isn’t that terrible,” Wendy Brown, a member of the church’s Vestry, said. “How cruel.”

While the antique pews were not being used for Sunday services, Brown said the church planned on selling the pews on their own to raise funds for the church.

“Those pews represented money that would have come to the church,” Brown said.

The performance barn, which sits behind the church, “is a beautiful building inside,” Brown said. 

What makes the vandalism even more heart-breaking is all the good the 139-year-old church does for the community.

“Our struggling church operates two successful and extremely busy food pantries, is utilized by numerous AA groups, is the home of the Nesin Cultural Arts, as well as being a strong voice and support system within the community,” members of the St. John Vestry said.

The church is located at 15 St. John Street in the Village of Monticello and church members have an open invitation to the thieves to attend their Christmas Services to be held at 5 p.m. Christmas Eve or 10 a.m. on Christmas day and experience the love and acceptance so many have enjoyed.

And maybe the thieves will bring a $2,000 check with them to repay the church for the terrible deed they did.

“It’s just heart-wrenching,” Brown said.

Monticello Police Chief Robert Mir said they are continuing to investigate the incident.