A pocket watch which travelled to the other side of the world early in the last century has made it home to the Black Country.

The miniature timepiece belonged to The Rev Thomas Swindell who was vicar at All Saints’ Church in Sedgley from 1888 to 1929.

The gold watch was inscribed and given to him by his parishioners in 1913 as a thank you for his first 25 years of service.

Over the decades it has been passed down through generations of Rev Swindell’s descendants ending up with his great-grand-niece in British Columbia, Canada.

But it has been welcomed back to All Saints after family friend David Shelton brought it to Sedgley and presented it to current vicar, the Rev Stephen Buckley.

The church plans to put the watch on show during special events so it can be seen by the whole community.

Mr Buckley, who has been at the church since February 2000, said: “I am pleased the watch has come back to the parish. It is a nice thing for the church to have.

“We will put it on display at times, we obviously can’t do that all the time, but we want to give people the chance to see it as it is a very nice watch.”

Mr Shelton had tracked down the watch’s origins and got in touch with Rev Buckley with the help of Sedgley Local History Society. He delivered the watch while on holiday in England.

It is believed one of Rev Swindell’s sons emigrated to Canada and that is how part of the family ending up living there.

Rev Swindell was the longest serving vicar at All Saints — completing 42 years at the helm before he died in 1929. He is buried in Gospel End Street cemetery. As well as a watch, a commemorative book was made to mark Rev Swindell’s 25th anniversary at the church and a copy is now kept at the Dudley Archives centre.

Mr Swindell’s great grand-niece had originally intended to sell the watch and had asked a Canadian gold and silver trader to find a buyer.

But when she found out the church was interested in having the watch, she said that she could not accept any money for it.

A church has been on the site of All Saints Church in Vicar Street since the 12th century. The current  building dates back to 1805 and opposite is the vicarage and church hall.

* The church wants to hear from anyone who can help fill in any more details of the watch’s past. Call 01902 883255.