Key Points
- CCTV images of a suspect man have been released by Merseyside Police following the theft of a brass tabernacle from Arrowe Park Hospital Chapel in Wirral.
- The report came in soon after 12.50pm on Wednesday, 23 September 2026.
- It is alleged that a man carried the tabernacle onto a wheelchair and took it out towards the football pitches on Arrowe Park Road.
- The tabernacle is believed to be made of brass, cylindrical in shape, approximately 45-60cm in height, and had a domed top with a sliding door.
- According to Inspector Sharon Robinson, the stolen item holds “enormous religious and spiritual significance” and she is appealing for any information about its location.
- The Diocese of Shrewsbury stated that Hosts were contained within the stolen tabernacle, as reported in The Catholic Herald.
- Anybody with any relevant information is requested to come forward and contact Merseyside Police using the reference 26000782221.
- People may call Merseyside Police with any information through X or Facebook @MerPolCC, online, by telephoning 101, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Liverpool Police (Liverpool standard) October 23, 2026 — Merseyside Police are seeking a man who may be able to assist their investigation after a religious tabernacle was reportedly stolen from the chapel at Arrowe Park Hospital.
As reported by Birkenhead News, detectives have issued CCTV images of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the alleged theft. The force says the item was taken shortly after 12.50pm on Wednesday, 23 September, and later seen being moved on a wheelchair towards the football pitches on Arrowe Park Road.
What was taken from Arrowe Park Hospital?
The missing item is a tabernacle, a container used in Christian worship to store the bread and communion wine. As reported by the Wirral Globe, it is described as a cylindrical brass item measuring approximately 45cm to 60cm tall, with a dome-shaped top and a sliding door.
Wirral NHS Hospitals said the tabernacle shown in its earlier appeal was an example only, and that the stolen item does not have a cross on top. The hospital and police have both appealed for its safe return.
The Catholic Herald reported that the Diocese of Shrewsbury confirmed the tabernacle contained Hosts when it was stolen. Hosts are the sacramental bread used in Catholic worship.
How did the alleged theft happen?
According to Merseyside Police, a man reportedly placed the tabernacle onto a wheelchair before pushing it outside the hospital. The item was then taken in the direction of the football pitches on Arrowe Park Road.
As reported by the Liverpool Echo, the man was described as white and of slim build. He was said to have been wearing a grey or black bobble hat, a surgical mask, a dark-coloured coat, jogging bottoms and trainers.
The BBC reported that police described the incident as “despicable” and said officers were examining CCTV footage as part of their investigation. Merseyside Police have not named a suspect, and no arrest has been reported in the available coverage.
What have police said?
Inspector Sharon Robinson said police were continuing to appeal for information following the theft.
As quoted by Birkenhead News, she said:
“We are continuing to appeal for more information following the theft of a tabernacle from Arrowe Park Hospital which is of huge religious and spiritual significance.”
She added:
“The tabernacle is around 45-60cm tall, brass, and cylindrical with a dome top and sliding door.”
Inspector Robinson said: “If you have seen it or know where it could be or recognise the man pictured, please contact police. Any information you have could be vital in returning this religious item back to the hospital.”
The Liverpool Echo also quoted Inspector Robinson as saying that police wanted the tabernacle returned to the hospital chapel and the offender brought to justice.
What are police asking the public to do?
Merseyside Police are asking anyone who recognises the man in the CCTV images, or who knows where the tabernacle may be, to come forward.
People with information can contact the force’s social media desk through X or Facebook at @MerPolCC. They can also report information online through the Merseyside Police website or call 101, quoting incident reference 26000782221.
Anyone who wishes to remain anonymous can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through its website. In an emergency, police say people should always call 999.
Why has the case attracted attention?
The alleged theft has drawn attention because the tabernacle is not an ordinary hospital item. It is a religious object used within the hospital chapel and, according to the Diocese of Shrewsbury, contained Hosts at the time it was taken.
The BBC described the artefact as a “large brass urn” and reported that the hospital had appealed for its return. The Wirral Globe reported that the item was taken from the hospital chapel shortly after 12.50pm on 23 September.
The latest police appeal, published through Birkenhead News on 23 October, indicates that detectives have continued their enquiries and are now seeking to identify a man seen in CCTV images.
Background of the development
Arrowe Park Hospital is part of Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and serves communities across Wirral and the wider Merseyside area. Hospital chapels provide a space for worship, prayer and pastoral support for patients, relatives and staff.
A tabernacle is a secure container used in Catholic and some other Christian traditions to reserve the consecrated Eucharist. Its removal from a chapel is therefore treated by the hospital, police and diocese as more than the loss of a physical object.
The alleged theft was first reported in late September. Wirral NHS Hospitals and Merseyside Police issued appeals for information, while local and national outlets including the BBC, Liverpool Echo, Wirral Globe and Catholic Herald covered the case. The most recent development is the release of CCTV images of a man police wish to identify.
Prediction: how this may affect the local community
For patients, families and hospital staff, the development may increase concern about security within hospital chapels and other quiet spaces intended for reflection and worship. If the tabernacle is recovered, it may help restore a sense of reassurance among those who use the chapel.
For the wider Wirral community, the police appeal may encourage residents and businesses near Arrowe Park Road to review CCTV or doorbell footage from 23 September. The identification of the man in the images could also lead to further police enquiries, although any criminal outcome would depend on the evidence gathered and any subsequent legal process.
