Churchgoers are aiming to raise up to £1.3 million for the redevelopment of St Martin’s Church in Caerphilly due to the closure of their Parish Hall.
A hall will be built into the back of the church, separated by a glass wall, with a balcony allowing overflow for busy services.
Funds of £430,000 have already been secured, partly from the sale of the 100-year-old parish hall, which was originally a school.
A celebration of the history of the hall took place on March 8, as well as an auction of its contents to raise money for the redevelopment that will be known as the Smart Centre.
The event outlined the fascinating history of the hall, which was commandeered by the military during World War Two for reasons unknown to parishioners.
Jennifer Davies, who helped organise the celebration, said: “We don’t know what the military did here but after the war it was in a terrible state of repair, the church hall had to be completely renovated.”
The closure of the hall will affect a number of activities including Akido, Zumba and Kickboxing classes, although these will be hosted in the redeveloped church.
Phil Howells, who plays table tennis at the hall, said: “It’s a very sad day, I cant remember the number of friends I have made here it’s unbelievable.”
Organiser Barbara Turner said the changes were part of a Church in Wales strategy to make large churches economical.
She said: “They said big churches have to be sustainable or they will be closed so we are opening up this new centre for the whole of the people of Caerphilly, no matter their colour or creed.”
The problem is the church wastes money. The church likes to spend and rely on donations. It's essentially a charity. The church should become an enterprise. There needs to be a for-profit arm attached to the church to generate money. Property development, cafés, restaurants, shops, investment holding etc.. All will generate more than fundraising and guarantee the longevity of the church.