‘Crime of the Century’ – The Case of the Stolen Church

Such it was called in a full-page story in the Vancouver Province in 1933.

A slight exaggeration, but a great story, all the same!

In this week’s feature story, guest writer Tom W. Parkin’s passing mention of the ‘Stolen Church’ sent me into my archives and there it is, the full story of this famous church-jacking that made newspaper headlines in its day. 

In next week’s Chronicles I let Charles Hayden tell you the tale of how Rufe Kimpton and fellow conspirators absconded with St. Peter’s Church, lock, stock and lectern, from the failing railway community of Donald, B.C.

That’s next week in the Chronicles.

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PHOTO: Revelstoke’s loss was Invermere’s gain—even though it had to be done illegally. —ColumbiaValley.com