St. Mary's Church, a cherished part of the Hitchin community, has announced a temporary closure for a security overhaul following a string of incidents, including thefts and a "more worrying attempt" to remove equipment from the building.

The church is working on a security review aiming to reopen as soon as possible.

While Sunday and Wednesday services will continue, visitors seeking solace or wishing to light candles at other times will need to wait a few weeks.

"We want the church to feel like it belongs to everyone," said a spokesperson to Hitchin Nub News, emphasizing their commitment to safeguarding the space for the community.

The church, maintained entirely by volunteers, installed live-streaming equipment during Covid, which remains invaluable for weddings and funerals. However, such equipment has become a target, underscoring the need for tightened security.

The police are reviewing evidence from the recent incidents, which reflect a broader context of thefts and shoplifting in the area.

St Mary's recently launched a new appeal to raise funds for important facilities to be built into the Church.

To provide toilets inside the building, with water and drainage for the first time in 1200 years and a small servery area plus some infrastructure like better heating they need to raise almost £1 million.

Fundraising efforts are ongoing, though current security challenges have limited access to donation points.

Despite the setbacks, the church remains hopeful. "It's sad to see desperate people resort to this," they added, calling on the community to rally in support of the church's future.