The mayor of Aberystwyth has written to Catholic Church hierarchy to complain that many opponents to the reopening of a defunct church in Penparcau were not invited to the consecration ceremony.

The renovated Church of the Welsh Martyrs in Piercefield Lane was officially opened last week after a long-drawn-out battle over the future of the 175-year-old St Winefride’s Church on Queen’s Road, Aberystwyth.

The new church in Penparcau was officially dedicated on 25 October, but Aberystwyth mayor Cllr Talat Chaudri – who was in attendance – has written to the bishop of the diocese, Bishop Thomas Burns, to question why some vocal opponents of the move within the Catholic community were not invited to the ceremony.

“There are several points, which we as a town council feel would have been inappropriate to raise during the ceremony, but would like to raise with you now in writing,” Cllr Chaudri wrote.

“Firstly we are aware that for the great part, the congregation were not representative of local Catholics, and that many Catholics who were opposed to the closing of St Winefride’s Church were not sent invitations.

“Of those that were sent invitations, many chose not to attend on principle, as there isn’t yet a survey that proves that St Winefride’s Church is structurally unsafe.

Bishop Burns has not yet commented on the matter, but has said that he “prays that the Church of the Welsh Martyrs at Penparcau will become a beacon of hope for the future.”

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