Aberystwyth Town Council has written to the new leader of the Diocese to “draw his attention” to the “very serious neglect” of St Winefride’s Church.

Aberystwyth mayor, Cllr Mari Turner, on behalf of the town council wrote to Archbishop George Stack, who is now administrator of the diocese after Bishop Tom Burns stood down in June.

Bishop Burns was a central figure in the controversy surrounding the closure of St Winefride’s Church on Queen’s Road which left the congregation without a permanent place of worship for several years before a controversial move into a renovated Welsh Martyrs Church in Penparcau.

Aberystwyth Town Council has long backed campaigners hoping to keep St Winefride’s open, and told Archbishop Stack “perplexing why such a historically important church should be left neglected by the Diocese”.

“Aberystwyth Town Council would like to draw your attention to the very serious neglect of St Winefride’s Church,” the council said in its letter.

“There can be no argument of shortage of funds, as it is estimated that half a million pounds was spent on the refurbishment of Welsh Martyrs, and the purchase of a house for the priest."

“Councillors are aware that many Catholics no longer attend Mass locally either because they are unable to get to the Welsh Martyrs Church or choose not to do so out of principle," it continues.

“Would now not be a good time for the Diocese, town council, parishioners and townspeople to move forward together in a spirit of goodwill, in order for this much-loved church building to be brought back into use?”

The long-standing row erupted between parishioners who argued that the 175-year-old St Winefride’s church should be renovated and those who backed the diocese decision to refurbish the church in Penparcau, which had laid empty and abandoned since 2008.

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now