Work starts on project to transform church into new centre
WORK has begun on a £1.8m development project to transform St Elvan’s Church, Aberdare, into a community heritage centre.
The redesign of St Elvan’s, located in the town centre, aims to attract tourists visiting the Valleys.
The church community and heritage centre project team has awarded the contract for the work to Henstaff, a Welsh construction company who will transform the building into a 21st century centre for use by the community and the surrounding district.
Visitors to the town will find a church building that will have an exhibition and heritage experience, a tourism and information desk, café, social activities and community engagement events, concerts and rooms for hire.
Councillors Steve Bradwick and Mike Forey said: “A £1.8m investment at the heart of Aberdare town centre which is exactly where St Elvan’s is situated is a fantastic boost to the town.
“It protects the commercial integrity of the businesses that border the church grounds and will help bring much-needed visitors into the town. This scheme will also complement the development at the Cynon Valley Museum and The Cynon Linc project which demonstrates a town that believes in its future.”
The funding for the project has been raised by the St Elvan’s Community Heritage project team from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Pen Y Cymoedd Wind farm Community Fund, Cadw, James Pantyfedwen Foundation, The National Church Trusts, The Parish of Aberdare, Welsh Government Community Scheme, Welsh Church Act Fund and Church In Wales.
Richard Bellamy, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Wales, said: “Wales’ historic and diverse places of worship are so often at the heart of our communities, and St Elvan’s is no exception. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are able to fund urgent structural repairs as well as improved facilities and visitor information, granting a muchloved building a new lease of life so it can continue to serve its local community and be relevant for all its members.”
Marc Phillips, chair of Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm Community Fund, said: “We are delighted to be able to support the St Elvan’s project. Not only will this iconic building be safeguarded, its redesign will provide a range of new community facilities for Aberdare and the Cynon Valley.
“We are particularly pleased to be supporting the creation of a new community heritage officer post, the recruitment and training of a volunteer team and the provision of work and educational placements.
“The Welsh language and Welsh culture has a long and powerful history in the Valley, and the project will highlight and celebrate this rich heritage.”
St Elvan’s church is
Grade II* listed and was built in 1852 to designs by London architect Andrew Moseley. It is situated in the centre of Aberdare and its conservation area. Its history is closely linked to the town’s development.
The church is in the gothic style and the steeple, which can be seen far across the valley, contains eight bells. industrial
The Eden Memorial commemorating the fallen of World War One lists 222 names of soldiers from the Parish of Aberdare and is the largest of its kind in the South Wales Valleys.