Diamond bracelet given to church

by David Schaffer
BBC News Online, Manchester

A rector could not believe his church's luck when he found a diamond-studded bracelet in its collection box.

Canon Christopher Samuels was alerted to the valuable donation when the woman who dropped it off rang him up.

Canon Samuels, of the St Mary without-the-Walls Church in Handbridge, Chester, said it is the most unusual donation the church has had.

Now the bracelet - thought to be worth at least £1,000 - is to be auctioned to raise money for church funds.

I've been rector at the church for 21 years and we've never received anything like this Canon Christopher Samuels

Canon Samuels, who is also one of 36 chaplains to the Queen, said the bracelet - which has 66 small diamonds around the band - might fetch up to £1,200, but he hopes it might attract a higher price.

"When the woman rang she asked me had I found a diamond bracelet in the alms box at the back of the church," he told BBC News Online.

"I was very surprised, but I thought what a generous gesture.

"I've been rector at the church for 21 years and we've never received anything like this. We often find foreign coins and buttons, but not diamond bracelets.

'Put to good use'

"I was a little suspicious at first, because of the thought it might have been stolen and this was a good way of getting rid of it - but it was totally genuine."

He said the woman, who is not from the Handbridge area and wants to remain anonymous, had been wondering what to do with the bracelet, when she left it at the church in March.

"She said she was passing one day and saw the door was open and that she felt at that moment she wanted to put it to some good use for the church," said Canon Samuels.

Youth work

"And I felt that because she had taken the trouble to get in touch with me I should take the trouble to make sure I get the maximum amount for it.

"It's not an antique - but even if does just get £1,000 it will be £1,000 the church did not have."

The bracelet will be auctioned at Byrnes Auctioneers and Valuers in Chester on 23 June.

Proceeds will be used to fund the church's work with young people in the area.