The 17th century lidded communion cup – thought to be worth thousands of pounds – was taken from St Cuthbert's Church in High Ackworth in 1961.
It was finally uncovered when Dorset man Paul Constant passed it on to an auctioneer for sale after inheriting and innocently owning it for years.

Church warden Bill Branston said: "The churchwardens are delighted that it has been recovered and returned to its rightful place in Ackworth church.
"Members of the congregation are pleased that it has been returned to the church and hope to be able to again experience its use in future church services, in the manner intended.

"It must, however, be emphasised, as stated in court, that there was no suggestion the vendor of the chalice had obtained it in any manner other than legitimately.
"Due to its uniqueness and age it is believed that the chalice may be worth several thousand pounds.

"It is however of much greater value to the parish as part of its heritage and its return to Ackworth is important as it will allow it to continue to be associated with the village and its historical past."
St Cuthbert's vicar, the Rev Paul Hartley, added: "It's pleasing that the chalice has come back but it's well before my time that it disappeared, so this is the first I've seen of it."

The chalice was removed from auction last August after a specialist recognised it as Ackworth silverware and contacted the church to see if it had been stolen.
As the church had photographs and evidence of ownership the matter was reported to police, who held it until its ownership was decided out of court in a private agreement.

The chalice, which at some point was bought legitimately and inherited by a family unaware it had been stolen, was returned to the church in May.
Auctioneer Richard Bromell, of Charterhouse Auctioneers in Sherborne, said: "In the 25 years I have been an auctioneer, I have seen and handled hundreds and thousands of items, and I have never had anything so unusual.

"As soon as I saw it I knew it was a fantastic thing, you do not come across many early 17th century chalices with covers.
"They are rare things – a lot have been melted down and disposed of."

SILVERSMITH John Plummer of York created the silver chalice and paten in 1631.
It is the oldest piece of the church's silverware made to replace its original collection, which was confiscated by the Duke of Northumberland in May 1553.

A rare example of Mr Plummer's work, it was used for administering the sacrament at holy communion in services at the church.
But in November 1961 the piece was taken from a room in the old rectory while the then rector Rev Armstrong was out of the room.
The theft was reported to the police but the chalice was not recovered or seen again until it was put up for auction last summer.