Plaid Cymru’s Leanne Wood is backing a group of people from a Rhondda village that have refused to leave their local church after its last service to prevent it from being lost to the community forever.
The South Wales Central AM visited the group who occupied the All Saints Church in Maerdy this morning because of fears the land and building could eventually be sold to a private buyer and developed. The group, which includes Maerdy county councillor Gerwyn Evans, has organised a rota to ensure they maintain a presence within the church around-the-clock. A banner reading ‘Save All Saints – Fight for our Community’ has been placed outside the church.
The newly formed Friends of All Saints Church later released a statement which said:
“We are holding a peaceful vigil in All Saints Church Maerdy in full support of the parishioners of the church and the building which faces permanent closure having held its last service today.
“Appeals to the Parochial Church Council members of Rhondda Fach Uchaf for a meeting within 48 hours, with a view to a year’s grace or the overturning of the decision, have been made.
“Our stance is supported by a large section of the community in Maerdy who attended a public meeting last week. In recent years all of our heritage buildings have been lost in Maerdy. As a community we are determined to hold onto this last one.
“We will remain in the building until we are able to put our case to those who have made this decision.”
Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales Central joined the group inside the church to lend them her support.
She said:
“I’m here to support the community and councillor Gerwyn Evans who is a member of the church. Maerdy is an area in urgent need of regeneration having lost many buildings and services in recent years.
“It could be a thriving community and these people are trying to hold onto one of the few things they have got left.
“Appeals by myself and others to the church to retain the building as a community resource have not been successful to date. Councillor Gerwyn Evans has also been told by a reporter that the church plans to sell the building and the land so local people are determined to retain it for community use.”
