Members of a Gwinnett County congregation are hoping whoever stole their prized church bell will have a change of heart and return it, Channel 2 Action News reported.
"It's a sad state in our community when something like that happens, so we'd just like to see our bell back if we could," said the Rev. Wayne Stancel, pastor of Duncan Creek Congregational Church, 3868 Braselton Highway NE.
The 100-pound cast-iron bell vanished from its pedestal outside the church sometime between midnight Sunday and midnight Tuesday, according to a Gwinnett County police report.
Stancel said he has visited local scrap yards and antique dealers, asking if anyone has seen the bell. So far, it hasn’t turned up.
"I was told it would bring probably $15 for scrap," he said.
But the memories it evokes among church members are precious.
“We would like to have it back for sentimental reasons, and we hate to see it melted for scrap iron," Stancel said.
Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact Gwinnett police at 770-513-5000.
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