New community facilities for St Asaph’s Church

Ambitious plans to combine a city church with new community facilities have been awarded a major grant from the Welsh Government’s Communities Facilities Programme.

The medieval St Asaph Parish Church has been awarded a quarter of a million pounds from the programme run by the Welsh Government to improve community facilities.  Work has already started to internally restructure the church to accommodate a fully equipped kitchen, a quiet prayer room, a meeting room, and new toilets at the rear of the building, with stairs and a stairlift to a gallery above.  In addition, a new heating and lighting system is planned and the church pews will be removed to create a large flexible space in both naves. Outside, improved lighting and a ramp onto the grassed churchyard will be created.

The Church and Mission Area Warden, Clive Hughes, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this grant which has kick started the construction phase of this project.

“The church was closed for services at the beginning of October and work is now well underway to create a new space for the people of St Asaph.

“Planning, consulting and fund raising began more than four years ago and we’re excited to think that by next summer we’ll be re-opening the new community facilities and re-ordered church.

“All our services are taking place at the Cathedral while the church is closed and we’re looking forward to celebrating Christmas in the Cathedral this year.”

As well as receiving funding from the Welsh Communities Facilities Programme, St Asaph Church has received two grants from the National Churches Trust (£7,300 and £15,000), the Diocesan Transformation Fund (£15,000), the St Asaph Community Association (£27,000) the Gwynt Y Môr fund, which has contributed £31,000 to install the new heating system, and from Churchfields Community Trust which has contributed £5,000.

A recent £15,000 award from the National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund the installation of toilets and a kitchen at the Grade II* listed St Asaph and St Kentigern church.  Dr Duncan Cameron, member of the Project Team said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this grant from the National Churches Trust to enable the installation and equipping of toilets and a kitchen in our parish church. As St Asaph does not have a community centre, we will now be able to make the church building available as a warm, welcoming and well-equipped venue for a great variety of community activities, in addition to continuing its traditional role as our parish church. It will become a church used every day of the week, at the heart of our community! A heartfelt “thank you” from us all.”

Clive added: “Many fund-raising activities have been undertaken by members of the congregation, who have also contributed generously, and we are extremely grateful for all the help and support we have received.  We look forward to welcoming the community into the building when it opens next year.”

Further information about the church can be found at their website.