An ancient document has been discovered hiding between the pages of a People’s Friend annual – and a Telford vicar is now searching for it’s owner.
Rev Kevin Evans, from Wombridge Parish Church, found a baptism certificate dating back to the 1800s in the most unlikely of places while sifting through items donated to the church.
He is now searching for the certificate’s rightful owner.
He said: “I was sorting through some items donated to the church and there was a copy of a People’s Friend 2001 annual.
“When I opened it up there were little bits of paper and inside there was a very, very old piece of paper which was a baptism certificate dated September 29, 1844.
“I just opened the book up and this piece of paper was there.”
The certificate is for Joseph, son of Richard and Mary Phillips, of Trench.
Mr Evans believes it has been signed by the curate Yonge.
“It is absolutely astonishing,” said Mr Evans. “I don’t know whose book it is, it was among a series of these People’s Friend’s annuals from the 1990s.
“It could be worth something to some family.
“I am searching for the family. It is certainly an interest for people because of its age but the real value is for the family.”
