We are raising money to renovate the fund raising church in Mumbles because it's a growing church

Reverend Long

Three months later, they have come back with �4,500.

The 34-year-old vicar asked his flock to invest the cash in projects to raise funds for restoration work for the 125-year-old Grade II listed building.

Around 50 members of the congregation used the money to organise events such as coffee mornings, a swimathon and a school fancy dress day.

Reverend Long said 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.

But the vicar pledged that none of his parishioners would face the same fate if they failed to bring back more than the �10 they received during his sermon.

He had hoped the drive might generate up to �1,500 in the kitty when the money was returned.

Parable message

"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."

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.