NORWAY – The Second Congregational Church tent is missing – or at least the top part of it.

“It’s topless,” confirmed church treasurer Kate Wood.

The canopy tent, which measures approximately 20- by- 12-feet, was taken along with the cardboard box it was stored in sometime between July 2 and 6 from a shed next to the church on Main Street that’s being used as the drop-off donation point for the church’s Aug. 25 yard sale.

“It was only the top part that was taken,” said the Rev. William Wildman. The poles that support the tent top, fitting cords and sides were left behind.

The last time anyone remembers seeing the tent top was just after the weekend of July 2 when parishioners set it up on the lawn during the Norway Sidewalk Sale to sell pies. It was then folded up and placed in the cardboard box and placed in the unlocked shed next to the church parking lot on the afternoon of July 2.

“We announced it from the pulpit for two Sundays,” said Wood of attempts to find the tent top. After calling almost every parishioner, church leaders determined the tent top had probably not been borrowed.

Convinced that it had met a seedier fate, the church filed a police report. “They said if they found it on the side of the road they would let us know,” said Wood, trying to see some humor in the situation.

“What would someone do with a big tent top? Cover their woodpile?” Wood asked.

The tent, which was shipped from Pennsylvania, was donated by the Mingle family about three years ago and valued at about $1,000. It is not known what the replacement cost will be, if it becomes necessary to replace it.

“We’re discouraged. We use it to try to raise money for the church,” Wood said.

Wood said the church just wants the top back. “They can drop it off in the middle of the night no questions asked,” she said. Anyone with relevant information should call the church at 207-743-2290.