It seems to have captured people's imagination

Reverend Peter Long

He asked them to invest the cash in projects to raise funds for restoration work for the 125-year-old Grade II listed building.

His inspiration came from the Parable of the Talents from the Gospel according St Matthew in which a king gives money to three of his servants and asks them to increase his wealth while he is away.

Two of the servants use the money to make money while a third, who simply buries it in the ground for safe-keeping, is "cast-out" when his master returns.

Rev. Long has pledged that none of his parishioners face the same fate if they fail to bring back more than the �10 they received during his sermon.

But he is hopeful that as around 50 members of the congregation have taken up the challenge, he will have up to �1,500 in the kitty when the money is returned on 16 February.

Parable message

Some of the money has been given to children who have organised events such as swimmathons while others have used the money for coffee mornings and jewellery sales.

Rev. Long said he has given his flock three months to come back with their �10 notes, plus whatever they have raised.

"The message in the parable is that whatever talents God gives us, we've got to use it and not bury it.

"It's part of a much bigger fund raising drive - we are raising money to renovate the fund raising church in Mumbles because it's a growing church and we need the space to develop future work in the community.

"It seems to have captured people's imagination.

"I had two young people knock on my door over Christmas and say 'we've been carol singing and here's what we've raised for the church' which was absolutely superb."

The church needs �600,000 for the repairs, of which �180,000 must be raised locally.

The parish has also put in for a Heritage Commission grant.