An elderly man, serving as a deacon at a Texas church, slugged it out with three robbers to protect the proceeds of his church's Sunday offering.

Bill Hammett, 77, serves as a deacon at First Baptist Church in Sunnyvale, Texas.

On Sunday, he was attacked by three men demanding money as he was locking up thousands of dollars in church collections.

The men assaulted him with a club and punched him, but the elderly deacon said he got in a few punches of his own during the confrontation.

Hammett was later found unconscious and taken to the hospital where was treated for minor injuries. The robbers escaped with his wallet and some cash, but not the offering

"I'm not going to go down without a fight," Hammond said. "I mean, church is not a place for a fight, but sometimes you have to defend yourself where you're at."

Police are investigating the incident.