The bishop at the centre of a Catholic Church controversy in Aberystwyth has stepped down from his role after turning 75.

Bishop Tom Burns resigned as Bishop of Menevia last week, with his resignation being accepted by Pope Francis.

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.

A row erupted between parishioners who argued that 175-year-old St Winefride’s should be renovated and those who backed the diocese decision to refurbish the church in Penparcau, which has been lying empty since 2008.

The Catholic community was left without a permanent home in which to worship since the decision was taken to close St Winefride’s on safety grounds in 2012.

The renovated Church of the Welsh Martyrs was finally opened in October last year.

Bishop Burns pushed for the closure of St Winifride’s and launched an attack on Aberystwyth town councillors, accusing them of being “undemocratic” and “lacking impartiality” over a row after the council agreed to pay for a survey of the church to ascertain whether it could be saved.

He stepped down from his role after turning 75 on 3 June.

He said: “I feel unworthy to have been chosen by the Lord to be a priest and then a bishop, to navigate waters that have become increasingly challenging, yet day by day were filled with so many graces.

“I thank the Lord, as well as clergy and people, for so many blessings, and ask forgiveness for my failings.”

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