The £2m communion cup...

A Wiltshire (United Kingdom) church may be calling off its appeal for a new roof... 

The magnificent silver cup they've been using for communion for hundreds of years has just been valued by the British Museum.

The museum has had it on loan for the best part of half a century, but now wants to buy it and believes £2m is a fair price.

The chalice, just a few inches tall, is currently on display in the Edward VII gallery at the Museum, and is insured for £1.8m.

Rev Sally Wheeler of St Cyriac's church in Lacock said that no final decision had been made about selling, and they were canvassing people's opinions.

Over 50 people have already attended a meeting to discuss the idea.

The £350,000 needed for a new roof could be paid easily, with the rest of the money building up interest in a trust fund.

If the community is persuaded, Wheeler will apply for a diocesan - that is a license to sell the chalice, as church property cannot be sold freely.

The church was in the headlines in 2006 when Laura Parker Bowles, daughter of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall married there.

The chalice was donated to the church 400 years ago, and is thought to date back to the 1400s. 

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