A STONE communion table which sat in a Portland church for more than 120 years is set to be sold at auction.

The locally-carved table has been described as ‘a piece of local history’. Made by island master stonemason George Mitchell, the table is carved in solid Portland stone.

Mr Mitchell worked on the table for six months in his spare time and presented it to the Portland United Reformed Church, Chiswell, in 1881. Such tables are used in churches for preparing Holy Communion.

The Southern Times described it at the time as the “handsomest communion table of any noncomformist chapel in the country”. The table remained in the church until its closure in 2009. It was returned to his descendants who have now decided to sell. It will be sold by Lawrences of Crewkerne next month and is estimated at £300-500.

Lawrences Auctioneer Simon Jones said: “This is a piece of local history and is a beautifully made item. I expect this to attract interest both from buyers in this area and beyond.”

It will be included in the April Fine Art Sale on Friday, April 24.