But St Peter's Church in Oundle had something much more ingenious and grander in mind in its mission to bring hope to poverty-stricken children in Paraguay.

And thanks to the sterling efforts of the church's members and the local community, which generated almost £30,000 to fund a mobile toy library for youngsters in the South American country, St Peter's has leapt into the finals of a national competition.

Its innovative moneyspinners, including a cheekily-titled recipe book called The Vicar's Tarts, an auction of promises and the primary school's raft of themed days, captured the judges imagination.

And now, the church is in the running for the Ecclesiastical Insurance contest's top prize of £1,500, which will be announced at a glittering ceremony at Windsor Castle in November.

The top 12 finalists will all feature in Ecclesiastical's 2008 calendar with a national circulation so that the best ideas can be shared among churches all over the country.

The mobile toy library project was the brainchild of church warden Ann Varley.

Mrs Varley was inspired to help the St Andrew's Early Years Teacher Training College (FEISA) in Paraguay in September 2005.

At one of the services, Mrs Varley spoke movingly of her vision to raise £25,000 to provide FEISA with a vehicle to transport toys to children who had not experienced the joy of play, a salary for the driver and funds to maintain it for the first year.

And hundreds of knitted fluffy scarves, giant Christmas cards and a sponsored church sleepover later, that dream is now a reality.

Paraguayan Esteban Echeverria (26), the driver of the mobile toy library, sent a heartfelt letter to everyone at St Peter's Church for the opportunity, saying the job had saved his young family from a life of hardship.

"My job is extremely varied and seems to use all the gifts and skills I have acquired," he said. "But it is not only economic stability you have provided for my family.

"Thanks to you I can now rent a small house for my family.