Hindley, Wigan, last Wednesday (January 27). However, volunteers only realised it was missing on Saturday when they discovered a perfect bell-shaped divot in a patch of grass in the churchyard.Eileen Magee, who volunteers at the church in Chapel Fields Lane, said: "I can't believe it, I feel sick."We have no idea how they got up there."I have been involved in this church for about 80 years.
It's full of history."I'm so angry. The people who have done this are just scum."The bell is believed to date back to 1641, and was the original one used in the old chapel that previously stood on the site.The Grade II listed church was built in 1766 after the chapel had to be demolished due to being deemed unsafe.The thieves are believed to have pulled.
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