MORE and more churches are being closed, re-developed or sold in north Wales.

Recently, the Leader has noticed a rise in the amount of former churches being lost forever or turned into something else entirely throughout north Wales.

The Representative Body was established by Royal Charter in 1919 and is responsible for looking after the assets of the Church in Wales to ensure that resources are available for the benefit of the whole Church.

The buildings it owns enable church members to meet together for worship and other occasions and provide housing for the Church’s clergy.

The income from the investments it holds is used to provide grants to support the work of the Church in each diocese, and to pay towards clergy pensions.

But, as well as all that, it is also responsible for former churches following closure for worship and closed church halls.

A number of former churches have closed over the last year-and-a-half alone in North Wales.

Some, like St Winifride's at Gronant, are set to be re-developed for other purposes in future.

Among some of the churches sold/re-developed in north Wales since the start of 2023 are;

  • The Methodist Church (Rhos-on-Sea) - £500,000 to a Manchester-based developer in March 2023
  • St John’s Church (Connah’s Quay) - Listed for sale at guide price of £85,000 in October 2023
  •  The 'Chapel and School Room' (Caergwrle) - listed for sale at price of £195,000 in June 2024
  • St Catherine's Church (Old Colwyn) - Plans approved for gallery and residential space in July 2024
  • Glanrafon Chapel (Corwen) - Sold for undisclosed price
  • College Green (Tywyn, Gwynedd) - Sold for undisclosed price

So, all of that begs the question; "What actually happens when a church closes?"

The Diocese of St Asaph has kindly offered a possible answer to that question to us and others who may be wondering the same.

More than 5,000 people from across north east and mid Wales regularly participate in services, events and activities in the 200+ churches which make up the diocese. 

It covers the counties of Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham, half of Conwy and part of Gwynedd and Powys.

A Diocese of St Asaph spokesperson explained: “It is always a difficult and sad decision to close a church building. It only happens after careful reflection and prayer and is an acknowledgement that the building could not be sustained by the worshipping community.

“A church is a community of people and the closure of a building doesn’t necessarily mean the closure of a church. Often the church community relocates to a different space which may be geographically more convenient for the local community and have better facilities."

They added: “In some cases, the sale of a church building will secure the church’s future in a positive way by providing much needed housing or a business base which could enrich the community or a viable and sustainable community project.

“Any proceeds from the sale of a church building, after costs, is used to support mission and ministry in the local area, including helping with the maintenance of other church property."

The Diocese of Wrexham have also been approached for their views on this topic.