Talents

"Ancient church buildings are a money pit for their ministers and congregations. Repairs are a constant and costly concern. The vicar of Kirkheaton Parish Church, near Huddersfield, in the north of England found himself in this situation; with an old, inefficient building, which no longer served the needs of his congregation and the wider community. Radical, lateral thinking was required, and the Reverend Richard Steel was the man for the situation.

 Needing to raise a massive £375,000 to update the kitchen, office and toilet facilities, replace the flooring and substitute comfortable chairs for wooden pews, he set about mobilising the parishioners. And not averse to putting his hand in his own pocket, he withdrew around £500 of his own money, and handed out £10 shares to fifty of his most regular church attendees, with the suggestion that they find creative ways to make his investment grow. Citing the parable of the talents, Reverend Steel sent each of them out to follow the Biblical example, to show a good profit on their £10.

And how it worked! People were inspired and their inventiveness kicked in big-time. One person bought canvas and did a series of paintings, which were exhibited in a local gallery and sold for lots of money. Another set up a dog-walking business, and yet another made ‘posh’ cakes and sandwiches and staged a garden party. Now  they are well on the way to reaching their target, and their vicar has the satisfaction of knowing that what was good 2.000 years ago is still applicable today, and by having faith in his flock and his God, what seemed an impossible problem has all but been resolved."

Penny from across the pond