Christmas miracle as the missing legs from a bronze sculpture of Jesus are mysteriously returned

There has been a Christmas “resurrection” for a priest and his parishioners after the pair of legs stolen from a bronze sculpture of Jesus outside the church were mysteriously returned.

CHRISTMAS has come early for Father Richard Ross and his parishioners.

The popular Catholic priest is delighted that the legs stolen from a bronze sculpture of Jesus in front of the Church of the Incarnation at Lindisfarne have been returned.

“In something of a Christmas resurrection, the legs of the bronze figure of Christ from the Church of the Incarnation were returned,” Father Ross said.

“Just as mysteriously as they disappeared, they were found after mass resting against the cross from which they were taken, tied on with the stalk of an agapanthus flower from the surrounding garden.”

Fr Richard Ross with the returned pair of bronze legs stolen from the sculpture three months ago. Picture: Chris Kidd

The legs were stolen nearly three months ago and Father Ross said they were found after mass on Saturday night.

“They were probably there before mass but a parishioner who’d been chatting on the footpath after mass noticed them,” he said.

“They were on the cross resting exactly where they should be.”

Father Ross remains mystified as to why they were stolen in the first place and is equally as puzzled at their return.

The sculpture of Jesus at Lindisfarne’s Church of the Incarnation had its legs stolen about three months ago. Picture: Supplied

The police had drawn a blank and no one had come forward with any information as to their whereabouts.

Father Ross wants to ensure that the legs, weighing about 15kg, stay intact.

“They need to be fixed securely and we will have to find a different way to do that,” he said.

“We’re just thankful to whoever returned them.

“Our community are grateful, if not a little curious to know exactly what the story is!”