A statue reported stolen from St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church last March was found in a field near Woodman Valley on Monday.

The statue was stolen either late on March 5 or early March 6. At the time, church officials said they believed the statue was broken out of an outside fountain, and then carried off by one or more thieves.

The statue of St. Francis was 5-foot tall and very heavy. The damage and loss of the statue was estimated in March to be worth $10,000. It was given to the church in 1961.

The Colorado Springs resident who found the statue wasn’t a member of the church, but had spent time in the memorial garden where the statue was displayed.

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Previous Coverage: Police Seeking Public's Assistance In Locating Church Statue
March 11

The Colorado Springs Police Department is seeking the public's help in finding a statue stolen from an area church.

As 11 News first reported on March 6, parishioners at Grace and Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church on North Tejon Street arrived at church Sunday morning to find the church’s statue of St. Francis had been stolen.

Church officials believe the statue was broken out of an outside fountain, and then carried off by one or more thieves sometime late Saturday or early Sunday morning. The statue is about five feet tall, made of concrete and possibly copper, and weighed quite a bit. The statue depicts St. Francis holding a bird in one hand and a bird resting on each shoulder, with a rabbit sitting at his right foot.

The church’s Building and Grounds Warden, Dr. Chip Hill, says parishioners are disappointed this happened inside the Memorial Garden, “mostly shocked that people would do such a thing in an area which is pretty sacred to a great many people, if you have your relatives buried here, this is important ground”.

The warden says the Colorado Springs Police Department was called out to investigate.

Hill estimates the loss and damages to be around $10,000. But the emotional cost to the church may be more: Hill says that the absence of the statue "is a source of tremendous pain and distress to us."

If you know anything about this crime, you’re asked to call Crime Stoppers in Colorado Springs at (719) 634-STOP. You can also text in a tip to the Colorado Springs Police Department by texting into the number TIP411 and including “CSPD” in the message.