Christian charity ‘facing eviction by Church in Wales’
by Martin Shipton, Nation Cymru:
An award-winning Christian charity that supported more than 9,000 people during the Covid lockdown says it could be evicted by the Church in Wales.
The Parish Trust was founded in 2019 by Rev Dean Roberts, Rector of the parish of Bedwas, near Caerphilly, with a Board of Trustees made up of representatives of local parishes. The charity was based in St Thomas Church in Trethomas, one of six churches he was responsible for.
St Thomas Church – a modern building with good accessibility – was commandeered during the pandemic, with the full knowledge and blessing of the Church in Wales and the local Bishop. The parish of Bedwas, which had two church buildings, was not in a financial position to look after both. Attendance at St Thomas had declined, as had finance. Since 2020, the Parish Trust has invested over £50,000 into the church, including a new boiler, a new kitchen and environmentally friendly lighting.
The Parochial Church Council had even petitioned the bishop to legally decree the church redundant and closed for worship’ – such was the problems it caused them financially. Bishop Cherry Vann made such a decree on August 9, 2022, only to change her mind one month later, legally rescinding the decree.
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