MORE than 70 per cent of Gwent people consider themselves Christians, but the past seven days highlighted the battle of the Church to survive in the modern age.

A new guide was launched last week to increase the number of visitors to Gwent churches, as well as rekindle the interest of residents.

The guide, launched on Thursday, took the form of an illustrated leaflet and features 25 historic churches in the Church of Wales Diocese of Monmouth.

It is available in all tourist information centres. and project organisers hope it will encourage locals and tourists to rediscover these local churches.

The £70,000 donated to save a rare church treasure was also a reminder of the financial pressures on Church leaders trying to keep places of worship in good repair.

St Mary's Church at Llanfair, Kilgeddin, near Abergavenny, was awarded the money by Cadw and The Pilgrim Trust to restore rare 19th century murals. The sgraffito decoration is made by painting layers of colour onto a wall then etching a design into it.

Far from working just the one day a week, Church leaders face challenges in every aspect of their work, and multi-task between being minister, accountant, community co-ordinator, charity fundraiser and foreman.

Building and upkeep have posed particular problems for the Rev Geoff Waggett, vicar of Christchurch, Ebbw Vale. Work on the 175-foot spire of the 19th-century Grade II listed building has now been completed after a fire broke out in December 2003.

He said: "We were lucky because we got £1.5 million to do the work, but the buildings need money spending on them all the time."

The fire at Christchurch was not seen as suspicious by police, but crime is a growing problem.

Janet Bone, Monmouthshire diocesan Press officer said: "We do have problems with vandalism, and it is heartbreaking, not to mention expensive.

"Congregations are nervous about leaving churches open, because they hear so much about crime, but in fact, insurance is lower for churches that are left unlocked, because they are actually less likely to be vandalised."

At the root of many problems are falling attendance figures, though the decline has slowed in recent years. St Thomas the Apostle, in Redwick, has a regular congregation of 14 to 20 people, although the population of Redwick is 170.

This core of worshippers have recently managed to get their Grade I listed church restored by raising £60,000 and securing grants of £200,000.

Ms Bone believes this is a result of today's consumer culture, where people expect to be able to tailor things to their individual needs.

"But in fact the Christian faith is all about belonging to part of a wider community," she said.

Mr Waggett said: "The problem is, although only a small percentage of Christians are involved with a church, they all expect it to be there for them all the time, for weddings, funerals and christenings.

"In many ways, if churches in decline are forced to close it is an important reminder to people that this is a case of use it or lose it."

For him, the biggest challenge of all is reawakening belief in people.