The 12 napkin rings were a storied part of Bermuda’s past, crafted from the weathered copper that once formed the roof of the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity. Peter Nash is hoping that their historical tie will help raise money for a good cause: repairs to the organ at St Mark’s Anglican Church.

“We had some damage to the roof, which caused a ceiling collapse, which caused water getting into some of the wooden components in the organ, and they need to be replaced,” said Mr Nash, a 60-year member of the church and a longtime choir member.

While the damage that occurred last autumn is not extensive, it is estimated the necessary repairs will cost $35,000. Driven by his love of music, Mr Nash took a personal interest in ensuring the work was completed, quickly considering how he might assist.

“The organ at the church is a very integral part of the whole existence of the church. It's a wonderful instrument and it was certainly, in Jean Motyer’s time. She was the organist for 27 years and she spent a lot of her own personal family money on enhancing the organ,” he said.

“It's such a wonderful instrument and you can do so much with it. And I’ve basically kept that interest going by being the sort of middleman between the organ builder, when he comes, and our organist.”

His interest in music started at the age of 11, Mr Nash explained.

“I joined a church choir, and I've been singing ever since. I'm very much steeped in church music, and most of the kind of music that I do is church related or spiritual music – Mozart’s Requiem and things like that. It’s just become my love.”

Mr Nash received the napkin rings from his son, Mark, who purchased them in 2011 as part of a $2 million fundraising effort to replace the roof of the Anglican Cathedral in Hamilton.

Artists were given the opportunity to transform the historical sheets of metal into unique works of art, which were then auctioned off at Raise the Roof: A Celebration in Art at Bacardi International.

“He said, ‘Here Pops, you might be able to use these or do something with them, and that's what I'm doing. [My thinking was] let's see if I can get a little bit of money towards the cost of repairing the damage to the organ.”

The rings will go to the highest bidder. People have until the end of the month to make an offer.

“I would like to let the copper work its magic one more time. They will be an enhancement [and a conversation piece] for your dining occasion – and all for a worthy cause,” Mr Nash wrote in an appeal circulated within the Anglican diocesan community.

“I offer the set of napkin rings to the highest bidder and will donate the entire proceeds to St Mark’s Church, specifically to the Organ Fund. There are some repairs pending and this can only help. All bids will be confidential unless waived – and, yes, there is a reserve price!”

Bids should be offered privately to Mr Nash by February 28 at 5pm.

“I just thought, ‘Well, I need to set a deadline. I can't leave it open-ended, so what would be a reasonable time frame?’ I decided on the end of the month. People are going to be impulsive, they're going to react fairly quickly to the opportunity. I’ve no doubt that somebody will come up and make an offer.”

As he has “no idea at all” of the napkin rings’ value, the entire exercise is “kind of a fishing expedition”.

“They are worth what somebody is prepared to pay for them. And because of the history, there might be some people who remember that, and wish they’d got something at the time [or] someone might [simply think] ‘Oh, it’d be nice to have those.’ It's just sort of, cast the net and see what we catch.”

It’s really just about supporting an important effort, Mr Nash said.

“In my view it’s a good cause, yes. And it's my own initiative. It's not something that is being done by the church. It's just something I thought of because I had them.

“It was just as basic as that – my personal initiative knowing that we have some damage to be repaired at the organ. I don’t know whether we have an insurance claim or not and so I thought, ‘Well, anything I can get towards the cost can only help’.”

• To make a bid for the 12 copper napkin rings contact Peter Nash on 535-5465 or pnash@logic.bm before 5pm on Friday, February 28. The highest bidder will take them home