A burial plan was among documents from a safe stolen in a church burglary – carried out after a wooden cross was carefully moved to prevent it being damaged.

A volunteer pastor at Chapel and School Room Church, in Woodham Ferrers, near Chelmsford, said losing the plan would make it “more difficult to carry out burials”.

During the weekend burglary, burglars forced their way into the sacristy before snatching an “old safe”.

Eric Fenwick, who has been a volunteer pastor at the church for 25 years, said: “It’s really overwhelming – it’s like someone is breaking into your personal space at home. »