A person who steals from a church, or from the Christian Church; a plunderer of churches (especially with reference to the seizing of Church property by the State at the Reformation).
Origin
Early 16th century. From church + robber.
Definition of church robber in US English:
church robber
nounˈtʃəːtʃ ˌrɒbə
A person who steals from a church, or from the Christian Church; a plunderer of churches (especially with reference to the seizing of Church property by the State at the Reformation).