A CLERIC and his worshippers have been giving away bunches of £10 notes to the congregation - telling them to come back with at least double the money.

John Howard

A CLERIC and his worshippers have been giving away bunches of £10 notes to the congregation - telling them to come back with at least double the money.

The Rev Michael Eden, vicar at St Peter and St Mary's, hopes the idea to give away about £1,000 which will generate extra funds to help restore his church in the centre of Stowmarket.

Already hundreds of pounds have been given away at Sunday services and the latest fundraising drive comes after the success of the last talent contest organised during 2005 when the church gave away £10 notes to worshippers.

Last time the church gave out 97 crisp tenners and received back a total of £6,272.65 with Jean Hearn raising the most, returning a stunning £410 through jam and cake sales.

Christians hope to raise even more than last time and are calling on residents to support fundraisers that church-goers devise.

Rev Eden said: “People have six months to bring the money back, and more. This is catching people's imagination and worshippers are very excited, and fired up.

“You do not need to be a regular worshipper, although we are taking people's names and details and they sign for the money.

“We had some visitors to the church who took some money and have given those taking part a list of 60 ideas including organising a quiz night, clearing out the house and hiring a pitch at a car boot sale with the £10, buying a rope to hold a tug of war contest, and buying ingredients and making jams.

“I have got some seeds and am growing lettuce and tomatoes and whoever raises the most will get a prize.”

The latest contest was launched this month and a harvest festival service will be held on October 5 where the money raised will be brought back.

The funds will go to St Peter and St Mary's 3Rs project of Restoration, Renovation and Reordering the stunning grade one listed 700-year-old building.

Mike Arbon, chairman of the 3Rs committee, said: “This is a great opportunity to get out into the community. It's early stages, we have only just got our £10s. People will be really imaginative.”

Later this year work at the church will begin on the high clerestory windows and an architect is drawing up plans to install a toilet in the church.

Have you made something out of nothing for charity? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk