baptismal and other invaluable records dating back to the last century -- their whereabouts remains a mystery.

Yesterday the Ven. Ewen Ratteray, rector of St. John's Church expressed his disappointment that the documents had never reappeared despite pleas for their return, adding he feared they had been dumped in the sea.

In June last year thieves executed what St. John's Church officials believed to be a carefully planned heist during which a large safe containing money and irreplaceable marriage, baptismal and burial records was stolen.

It was believed the thieves entered the Pembroke Parish Office through an unlocked window, smashed during an earlier break-in.

Archdeacon Ratteray admitted he was "not hopeful'' that the documents were likely to resurface but renewed his plea for an anonymous return.

The theft, he said, left an enormous gap in the church's records. Those who came seeking to trace their ancestry or check the spelling of a name faced disappointment.

He added that most of the documents, some over a century old, were originals of which there were no existing copies.

"We just want them back,'' he said. "In general terms they are of no use to anybody.

"It was a highly significant event. It is very tragic and distressing.'' Since the theft, described by Archdeacon Ratteray as "not a casual break-in'', extra measures have been taken to protect church property. But in the interests of security, he would not specify what.