AN “EXTRAORDINARY” meeting of Aberystwyth Town Council lived up to its name last week as a Catholic bishop was quizzed over St Winefride’s Church.

With passions running high in a chamber packed with parishioners on both sides of the argument, Bishop Tom Burns, of the Diocese of Menevia, based in Swansea, told the council that he wished to demolish St Winefride’s Church, on Queen’s Road, and build affordable housing on the site.

Bishop Tom said that a group of parishioners, known locally as the Save Our St Winefride’s group, had unsuccessfully appealed the decision to close the church on three occasions, and that he could not now go against the decision of the Vatican.

“There is a way forward, and I seek the council’s help and the parishioners’ support,” Bishop Tom said.

“I can’t go against Rome’s decision, even though it was not I who approached Rome in the first place.

“I ask you to support an application for replacing St Winefride’s. It means having to face demolishing it, and that is a huge, emotional and sensitive action to take, but I believe it is the only way ahead.

“Demolition of the church will release a valuable space in town, and a well-designed scheme will enhance the appearance of the conservation area.”

Parishioners on both sides of the argument were given opportunity to respond to Bishop Tom’s remarks, but councillors were most vehement in their opposition to the Bishop’s proposals.

Cllr Alun Williams said: “You said that demolition of the church could actually enhance the conservation area. I would implore you not to use that argument again because it leads me to question everything you say.”

Other parishioners were supportive of the bishop’s proposal. Ruben Purchase said: “I would ask the council to bear in mind that there are particularly vocal parishioners who are the minority. There is a majority who have been dignified in their silence throughout this time."

Much of the disagreement over the future of the church centres around the question of whether the building is unsafe and, if so, how much it would cost to bring it back safely into use.

Prof Frank Hogg, a parishioner who had left his hospital bed to be at the meeting, offered to pay for an independent structural survey.

“The costs of the survey would be paid by myself and a few well-wishers,” Prof Hogg told the council.

“Such an independent structural survey offers a solution to the present disagreement.”

A motion tabled by Cllr Ceredig Davies, to support Prof Hogg’s proposal, was passed, and Bishop Tom said he would work with the town council to appoint a mutually-agreeable independent surveyor.

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