Madam,

Thank you for a most fair and comprehensive reporting of the meeting held between Aberystwyth Town Council and Bishop Thomas Burns recently (Council refuses to back bishop’s demolition plan).

The church has now officially been deconsecrated with the agreement of the Vatican, and is just an empty, rapidly decaying structure of no particular architectural merit.

It will never again be used for religious purposes such as baptisms, weddings, funerals and above all the celebration of Holy Mass.

The decision of the bishop and the trustees of the diocese is to proceed with the refurbishment of the Welsh Martyrs church at Penparcau as a temporary and urgent process with the long-term eventual aim, when finance and funds permit, to build a new church there for which planning permission has already been granted.

When the Welsh Martyrs church at Penparcau has been re-opened, an application will be made to Ceredigion County Council in due course for the demolition of the existing church, presbytery and hall in Queens Road so that the site can be re-developed for possible sheltered accommodation or starter homes for young people or student flats.

It is sincerely hoped that the town council will accept the reality of the situation and give their support for such a demolition application.

It would be a sad day for Aberystwyth to have such an immense eyesore in the centre of town for an indeterminate period in the future.

Yours etc,

Adrian Murphy, Trustee of the Diocese of Menevia, Llangunnor, Carmarthen.

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