WESTMINSTER ABBEY could return a stolen artefact back to Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian tabot, an artefact that represents the Ten Commandments and the Ark of the Covenant, was looted by British troops during the Battle of Maqdala (formerly Magdala) in 1868.  

The sacred tabot – which can only be viewed by priests in the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Church – was taken was taken by Captain George Arbuthnot of the Royal Artillery from northern Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), who later donated it to the Abbey, when he returned to London.

Now according to The Art Newspaper, the holy item could be returned after being the UK for over 150 years.

The Voice contacted Westminster Abbey who said the decision had been made “in principle” and it was a “complex matter.”

An Abbey spokesperson said: “The Dean and Chapter has decided in principle that it would be appropriate to return the Ethiopian tabot to the Ethiopian Church.

“We are currently considering the best way to achieve this, and we are in ongoing discussions with representatives of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

“This is a complex matter, and it may take some time.”

A final decision has not yet been made. But as Westminister Abbey falls within King Charles’ jurisdiction, before the tabot is returned to the East African country, it may require a blessing from the monarch.

In recent years Ethiopia has demanded the return of several artefacts from the Maqdala-era, including asking for items to be returned from the Victoria and Albert Museum, in 2007.

In 2020, the museum said it had begun talks with the Ethiopian embassy over returning looted treasures, including a gold crown.

Ethiopia was never conquered by the British, but the 1868 Expedition to Abyssinia, better known as the Battle of Magdala, saw  British soldiers take many tabots, which has long been a source of anger to Ethiopians.

There was public celebration in Addis Ababa in February 2002 when one looted tabot was found in the storeroom of St John’s Episcopal Church in Edinburgh. Another was given back to the Ethiopian authorities in 2003 after being identified at a London auction.

Ethiopia’s ‘stolen’ Prince

In December 2022, award-winning  British-Ethiopian poet Lemn Sissay called for the remains of an Ethiopian Prince to be returned to his homeland.

In 1868, Prince Alemayehu was seven years old when he was taken back to Britain by Captain Tristam Speedy, along with the looted treasures and sacred manuscripts. The young Prince died when he was 18 of lung inflammation. He is buried in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

The Chapel told The Voice, it was impractical to retrieve the boy’s remains because it would disturb the remains of others. According to The Chapel, there are 47 people buried in the same place as Prince Alemayehu.

The young prince was the only legitimate son of Emperor Tewodros II. He reigned as Emperor between 1818 and 1868, in Abyssinia – now Ethiopia.