St Philip's Church in Smethwick is home to a bizarre and unexplained phenomenon that has left many questions unanswered. In the mid-summer of 1954, two young boys were playing in the church grounds near the statue of Saint Philip when they witnessed something that would stay with them for a lifetime. The left hand of the statue suddenly broke off and fell to the ground, leaving a black void in its place. The boys looked away for a few minutes, and when they looked back, the left hand was back in place, as if nothing had happened.

Historical records of St Philip's Church date back to the 19th century, but the exact date of the statue's installation is unknown. What is known is that the statue has been a focal point of the church grounds for many years. The incident with the vanishing hand has been documented as a genuine paranormal event, with no logical explanation offered. The boys' account of the event has been verified, and it remains one of the most fascinating and unexplained events in the history of English hauntings.