PARISHIONERS are celebrating after selling a forgotten piece of church silverware for £9,000.

The 15th century silver chalice and paten sold at auction for nearly the equivalent of the annual running costs of St Michael’s Church in Llanfihangel Nant Bran.

Church warden Fiona Jones said members have double cause for celebration as the silverware, which dates back to when James I was on the throne, was bought by the curator of the Brecknockshire Museum.

It means the chalice and paten, which had lain forgotten in a bank vault, will now be on public display when the refurbished Brecknock Museum and Art Gallery re-opens in Brecon.

Mrs Jones said church members only became aware of the items five years ago.

"It was discovered five years ago at Lloyds Bank in Brecon. They were having a clear out and told us there was a box marked Llanfihangel Nant Bran and it was in there.

"A past vicar had put it in the bank and forgotten about it. It has been at the bank a while. I’ve been a church warden for about 30 years and I didn’t even know it existed," said Mrs Jones who said the church has a chalice.

"We had to get permission from the diocese to sell it and we’re very glad it has gone to the Brecon museum as it will stay in Brecon and people will be able to see it."

The silverware, which went under the hammer at Brightwells auction in Leominster, had a guide price of between £5,000 and £7,000 but was subject to competitive bidding on the day.

Mrs Jones said the church has annual running costs of around £9,000 so the sale has provided it with a valuable windfall.

"It will enable us to keep our church open and it will go towards the cost of running the church. We do fundraise but it is never really enough. This will keep us going a good three years without much pain."

Powys said the chalice had been funded with a Victoria and Albert Grant and the Friends of Brecknock Museum.