A derelict Catholic church in Aberystwyth, which was recently put on the market, will not be allowed to be used for religious worship in the future and certain religious artefacts will be removed.

St Winefride’s Church, which was built on Queen's Road in Aberystwyth in 1867, is currently on the market after being closed “suddenly” by the Diocese of Menevia in 2012.

Aberystwyth councillor Lucy Huws said, in a Cambrian News article from August, she hoped the building could be kept as a community space as well as a place “where people can go to recharge spiritually”.

But estate agent John Francis has now said, in a letter seen by the Cambrian News, that the building “cannot in the future be used for religious worship” by prospective purchasers and “certain fixtures and fittings will not form part of the sale” and would be removed upon being sold.

Cllr Huws criticised this decision and labelled removal of fixtures and fittings “short of architectural vandalism”.

“This is particularly strange, coming as it does from the Diocese of the Catholic Church," she said.

“In these most challenging times, with many in our community facing economic insecurity, food poverty and health fears, offering a sanctuary for contemplation and peace, should be exactly what the church should be supporting.”

In July of this year, Aberystwyth Town Council sent a letter to Archbishop George Stack, the administrative head of the Diocese of Menevia, to encourage the Diocese to engage in conversation with the council on “ways of preserving this much loved building and bringing it back into community use”.

However, the Diocese failed to engage in any dialogue with the council.

The council put a bid in for the church this week.

Cllr Huws added: “My opinion is that if in future the building be used as a museum or for exhibitions, then it would be a shame that artefacts and fittings giving the historic context will have been removed.

“After all St Winefride’s church was the first Catholic Church built after the reformation in Ceredigion, having artefacts typical of this period, such as the altar built by the sculptor R L Boulton.”

Cllr Huws claimed she had been informed that the stained glass window, the altar, the font and other artefacts will be removed from the church: “This is, in my opinion, short of architectural vandalism and demonstrates how very removed the diocese are of history and the important of preserving it, in its local context for future generations.”

The Diocese of Menevia have been contacted for a comment.