Madam,

In his letter, Buildings in good structural condition, David Barratt clearly and concisely notes the findings of his professional structural survey of St Winefride’s Church in Aberystwyth and also offers the contents of his report for publication.

He notes that the buildings “could easily have been preserved and adapted”.

Surely the buildings are still structurally able to be “preserved and adapted” even though the empty years since 2012 have taken some toll on them?

On a number of different occasions in January of this year, a small group of parishioners and other members of the public have been going into St Winefride’s presbytery to carry out various works inside the building – including removal of the fridge and washing machine and the taking up and removing of two carpets for installation in the parish priest’s new dwelling at Brynhyfryd, Piercefield Lane.

If St Winefride’s presbytery is safe for ordinary people to work inside it, then why is it that parishioners have had to pay almost £50,000 for rented accommodation over the last five years for two successive parish priests who, on the bishop’s orders, were not allowed to live there?

What is the true reason why they were not allowed to live in St Winefride’s presbytery?

Will parishioners also be expected to pay the purchase price of Brynhyfryd even though no consultation whatsoever between the diocese and the parishioners of Aberystwyth has taken place, either before or after Brynhyfryd was bought, regarding any possible house-purchase?

Is there also a 25-year mortgage to be paid off on this “fait accompli”, thus bringing the total debt on that house alone to over half a million pounds?

The “renovation” of Welsh Martyrs church is to cost £360,000 and is to be a “temporary” measure, according to the diocese, “until something better can be provided”. How much interest will accrue on the loan of £360,000 – and how much will the “something better” (i.e. another church) cost and will there be interest charges yet again?

Indeed, there are many financial questions which require an answer from the diocese - a registered charitable organisation known as Menevia Diocesan Trust.

In 2017, I wrote firstly to the Financial Secretary of the diocese requesting information, and then to the bishop together with a supporting document outlining the reasons for my concerns.

So far, I have received no response from either.

Regarding the letter titled None so deaf as those that don’t want to hear, which also concerned the Catholic Parish of Aberystwyth, perhaps the most apt response would be that “people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”.

I would like to invite the writer to join myself and many thousands of Catholics and other people of prayer on 29 April this year. At three o’clock we will be praying the Rosary for “Faith, Life and Peace” – an initiative which will be taking place in goodwill, not only on the coast of Ceredigion, but all around the coastline of Wales, England, Scotland and the Isle of Mann. All are welcome. In peace!

Yours etc,

Anne C Uruska, Aberystwyth.

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