1971: A TOLL Too Far? The CURSED BELL and the CHURCH TAX | Nationwide | BBC Archive

"The church itself is a curse, and a highly expensive one."

Bob Langley reports from South Queensferry in Scotland, where legend has it that the church bell of the old Queensferry parish church is cursed - and that anyone who dares remove it will face dire consequences. Modern residents of Queensferry, however, might think that the curse is a price worth paying - as a law dating back to 1635 states that they are legally required to pay 10 percent of the rateable value of their property to the church each year.

The thing is - the church building hasn't been used as a church for nearly a decade. So why on earth are the residents still expected to pay? Where does their money go? Can anything be done?

Clip taken from Nationwide, originally broadcast on BBC One, 27 January, 1971.

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