In a disappointing Christmas Day incident, a unique and popular Lego-themed nativity display at a Hunter Valley church was targeted by thieves, who made off with the life-size figures of Mary and the baby Jesus.
Community Display Vandalised During Festive Hours
Parish priest Brett Watterson of the All Saints Anglican Church in Nelson Bay confirmed the theft occurred sometime between 1pm and 5pm on December 25, 2025. The display, which had become a local attraction, was left with a lonely Joseph figure after the mother and child were taken.
Mr Watterson explained that a community member had seen the intact display while driving to a family celebration, intending to return later for photographs. Upon their return, the key figures were missing. "It's very disappointing to see someone take that away from the community," Mr Watterson said, noting the immense positive attention the novel scene had garnered since its installation.
A Labour of Love Targeted by Thieves
This year marked the first time the church had introduced the creative Lego theme to its traditional nativity scene. Mr Watterson, ordained for two decades, stated he had never seen a display attract so much engagement from passers-by, many of whom stopped to take pictures.
Substantial effort went into creating the display, led by Mr Watterson's wife, Michelle, and other congregation members. The figures were constructed from recycled materials, and the mannequins were borrowed from a local business, adding a layer of inconvenience to the crime. "We would love to be able to return them if they come back to us," the priest added, highlighting the items' sentimental rather than monetary value.
Speculating on why Joseph was left behind, Mr Watterson suggested the figure's staff may have made it more cumbersome to remove, or the thieves simply had their hands full.
Partial Return and a Pattern of Mischief
Following the incident, the church planned to report the theft to police, citing the "nuisance factor" of depriving the community of the joyful display. Mr Watterson revealed this was not the first time his churches had dealt with nativity scene vandalism, recounting a prior instance where figures were taken by revellers and returned a full year later.
In a positive turn of events later on Friday, the mannequin used for the Mary figure was discreetly returned to the front of the church. While the full Lego scene would not be rebuilt, the church was at least able to return the borrowed mannequin.
The theft sparked dismay on social media, with locals expressing sadness over the loss of a display that had brought them joy. The church continues to hope for the full return of the baby Jesus figure and has urged anyone with information to come forward.
