Project aims to transform historic church and hall

A new dafé, nursery and meeting spaces for voluntary groups form part of a project aimed at transforming a historic church and hall in Swansea.The church hall at St Catherine’s Church on Princess Street in Gorseinon, will soon be designed into a Heart of the Community facility.It comes after Parish of Casllwchwr and Gorseinon successfully applied to Swansea Council for investment as part of the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.Once complete, it is anticipated the new multi-purpose community space will be able to host more than 50 activities and services for people of all ages.Jobs are also expected to be created from the project, which will also make the church hall more accessible and energy efficient.There has been extensive consultation with the nearby community, including community leaders, existing church user groups, foodbanks and congregation visitors. Lined up also is an improved performance space in the church hall for the use of local schools and other groups.The project would build on the success of a huge number of activities and events which already take place in the church hall. These include a foodbank, a pop-up café and activities like short matt bowls and sports activities for children of all ages.Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said: “As a council, we want to make sure our allocation of Shared Prosperity Fund money from the UK Government benefits as many people as possible in Swansea.”The church hall repurposing project will meet that goal in the Gorseinon area by enabling more services and activities, while also creating jobs and more volunteering opportunities for local people.”Reverend Dr Adrian Morgan, vicar of the parish of Casllwchwr and Gorseinon, said: “We’re fortunate to be working with numerous local community groups and with other partners from across the region to deliver the project, and are engaging with other funders to ensure that every phase of the project will soon be completed, opening up this fabulous space for community use because we want it to benefit everyone.”St Catherine’s Church in Gorseinon was built between 1911 and 1913.