RENOVATION of the Welsh Martyrs Church in Penparcau is to start this month, the Catholic Church has announced.

Generous donations have made it possible for a “high-quality” renovation of the existing church and for the purchase of a presbytery on an adjacent site approximately 200m away.

A parish hall is planned for the future.

An architect and contractor have been instructed to bring the former church, with seating for 150 people, up to a high standard in materials and workmanship.

The work, expected to be completed by summer 2018, will start on the Welsh Martyrs site on 20 November.

Catholics in Aberystwyth have been forced to worship at the Morlan Centre and latterly at St Padarn’s Primary School since the bishop closed down St Winefride’s Church in Queens Road on safety grounds five years ago.

Campaigners have been fighting to have St Winefride’s renovated and have argued that the old and crumbling Welsh Martyrs church in Penparcau would be far too expensive to renovate and that it is too far out of Aberystwyth.

Bishop Tom Burns said: “I have been acutely aware of the difficulties and pain of the past few years.

“Aberystwyth has been uppermost in my thoughts and prayers.

“Also, I have been conscious of the wise words of Cardinal Newman who said: ‘A man would do nothing, if he waited until he could do it so well that no-one could find fault’.

“Now, at long last, we have a way forward that is both realistic and achievable: one that celebrates our Welsh martyrs to whom we owe so much and whose spiritual legacy we treasure.”

See this week’s south editions for the full story, in shops and online now