A RECTOR is throwing money – and caution – to the wind this Sunday.

Richard Steel, rector at Kirkheaton Parish Church will be handing out crisp £10 notes, of his own money, to anyone who wants one – with only a very small catch.

He is taking his cue from the Parable of the Talents in the Bible where Jesus tells the story of a man who entrusts money to his servants.

On his return two of them had doubled the investment though one recalcitrant didn’t get the idea and simply buried his money in the ground.

Mr Steel said: “Many years ago, around 20 in fact, a vicar friend of mine from Blackburn had the idea and I have finally got round to using it myself.

“We need to raise money for work we need to do on the church. Already £375,000 has been raised and a further £73,000 is needed and I thought this would be a good time to try it out. I’ve already had one person take a tenner off me.

“Not everyone in the church has money to give so I thought I’d offer them some ‘seed capital’ to invest – maybe in baking cakes for sale, buying car washing kit, material to make cards or a woolly hat to keep warm when offering a dog-walking service.

“I want all, from the oldest to the youngest to feel involved in this exciting project – and hopefully do some good and have some fun while they are doing it.

“No-one needs to give me a sales pitch. Anyone from the community is welcome to have £10 – just come along to either the 9.30am or 11am service.

“And people have until Easter to put their idea into action and return with the profits.

“The parable does have a sting in the tail. The servant who didn’t use the money wisely was ‘cast into the outer darkness’ (Jesus was encouraging people to fully use the gifts they had been given for God, not to waste them) but I promise that, even if they make a loss, I won’t be doing that to anyone.”

The stunt is part of the final fundraising drive for a project which will see the church developed to make it more flexible for the wider community as well as church use.

This will include installing a new floor, new heating system, kitchen and toilets, office, as well as entailing a complete redecoration and replacing the pews with chairs.

Scaffolding is due to be put up this weekend at the church and from Easter Sunday church services will be held in Kirkheaton Primary School until the work is completed – probably in about six months’ time.

The parable can be read at Matthew, Chapter 24:14-30.