St. Barnabas Episcopal Church on Bainbridge Island was broken into over the weekend, and suffered a significant theft.

A fire-safe box was stolen from the church on Wyatt Way over the evening of Sunday, July 29.

“We figured they thought there was something valuable in this fire-safe box, but it’s really old church records,” said Parish Administrator Katrina Diller.

The records are kept in fire-safe boxes because their significance is in their historical account, not so much because of their monetary value.

“Everything that is done from a marriage, a burial, a baptism (are included),” Diller said. “And it’s all hand written in old bound books.”

In fact, no money or other valuables were kept in the box.

The church’s records date back to approximately 1946 when the church was founded. They are irreplaceable.

The box was placed near a window, through which it was snatched. Diller figures that since the box was close to a window, whoever took it thought it would be a quick and easy grab.

The church is asking for the box back from whoever took it. They will accept a phone call, a drop off, or any other means of anonymously retrieving the records.

The church can be reached at 206-842-5601. Their website, www.stbbi.org, has further contact information.