Madam,

The recent decision by the bishop to build a church on the ruin of Welsh Martyrs in Penparcau has come as a shock. Firstly, Bishop Burns on his last visit in 2014 agreed with parishioners that the future location of the church would not be decided until the land in Penparcau had been sold and monies realised.

There is a record of this in writing. Bishop Burns’ latest plan for the church has been arrived at without any prior consultation; indeed he has not paid a visit to Aberystwyth since 2014.

Secondly, the parish are told that they are now in debt and that the diocese, without prior consultation, will be taking out a loan on behalf of the parish to fund the new church. In 2012, the parish accounts stood at £250,000.

This seemingly is now gone, with the sole breakdown of accounts for £11,000 published in the news letter of 23 April 2016. So the question remains as to how this diocesan project and loan will be financed, with many parishioners unable to get to Mass on Sunday at Welsh Martyrs in the first instance, and others unhappy about its location.

St Winefride’s church, located as it is in the town proper, with no structural weakness, as certified by four independent surveys; with parishioners willing to contribute financial support and volunteer skills; and with grants that could be sourced is the obvious, rational choice for the catholic church’s location.

Furthermore, planning consent has been granted to refurbish it to a modern fit-for-purpose standard. Common sense, therefore, is the driving force behind growing ‘opposition’ by Aberystwyth parishioners to a new-build church in an out-of-town location.

St Padarn brought Christianity to this corner of Wales 1,500 years ago, and today Catholics here in Aberystwyth would wish to continue to uphold the eternal truths of the church, whilst at the same time making them relevant to the 21st century, by insisting on high standards of accountability and transparency, as clearly expressed by the present Pope Francis.

A church built on rock, not one only constructed of bricks and mortar. May the diocese of Menevia take note.

Yours etc

Lucy Huws

Trinity Road

Aberystwyth.