168-year-old bell stolen from historic Black church in Georgia

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A bell has gone missing from a church in rural Georgia, and deputies are looking for the person responsible for the crime.

According to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, someone removed the bell off display from Waggoners Grove Baptist Church between March 19 and March 21.

“This is a low crime area, so it’s kind of hard to understand how something like this could happen,” said James Deadwyler, who lives nearby.

Waggoners Grove Baptist Church in Colbert, population 630, was established in 1855 in Madison County, Georgia. Deadwyler says parishioners come from all over to attend Sunday service here.

“This is one of the black churches, rural churches that most of the members come back,” said Deadwyler.

Edwin Hart runs a small retirement community nearby. He says Colbert is quiet and safe. People rarely lock their doors. He says he’s never heard of anything like this happening before, especially at at church.

“Maybe somebody knows something. I hope somebody finds out who it is and I hope they turn them in,” said Hart.

If you have any information about the stolen bell please contact 706-795-6220 or email cguest@madisonco.us.

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