....and build a new one well out of town, far from the hub of humanity?
I have posted on it before under the heading,
The Battle Of Aberystwyth but, just to refresh memories in a few words:-
Bishop Thomas Burns of Menevia tried to move quickly to clinch a property deal that would net him some capital with which he would, presumably, aim to reduce the considerable debts of the Diocese as well as build a new church.
Some say, allegedly, that he moved a shade...um....er....snakily?
Is that the right word?
At any rate, those parishioners who are opposed to the move do say that (allegedly) not all was revealed when it should have been - I cannot verify that...my stance is one of being a reporter (not a journalist) and I am trying to present things as evenly as possible.
Some months ago the affair was placed before the Town Council who, also, came out unanimously, in favour of rejuvenating the old church and keeping the in town community together.
And now......the good parish priest, Fr Neil Evans, who was thrust into this row just as it was erupting, has written an open letter to the Bishop.
Here it is.
I leave you to draw your own conclusions:-
3 September 2013
Dear Bishop Tom,
Thank you for visiting us at the weekend, for celebrating Mass, and for
speaking to the congregation after each Mass about the future of the parish.
Strong views were expressed on all sides but I feel that (in the meeting after
the 11 o'clock Mass) a consensus began to
form around the idea of setting up a forum of experts and interested parties
to establish the facts (with the help of a newly commissioned independent structural survey) as the way forward
to reconciliation and healing in the parish
which clearly, and thankfully, is what everyone seems earnestly to desire. Let
us pray that such an agreed course of action will indeed take place and that it
will have the happy result of bringing us all closer together.
On a less happy note, I'm sorry to say that I was dismayed to learn that
you recently arranged a meeting in
Carmarthen with a small group of ("eight or nine") parishioners to discuss with them the way forward as a parish,
without informing me of the meeting or inviting me to participate. If
consulted, I would have pointed out the importance (pastorally) of avoiding the
impression that the future (demolition) of St. Winefride's is being discussed
(mainly or exclusively) only with members of Penparcau Church / Aberaeron Church, because (if true) this in itself would seem
to confirm the lack of support from St. Winefride's.
This decision (not to inform me of the meeting) seems
to me to indicate a certain lack of respect for me both as
parish priest and as a Trustee of the Diocese, and I feel therefore that I have no choice but to press you
to accept my resignation from the Board of Trustees which previously you
declined to accept. I don't believe that having secret meetings with
parishioners without informing the parish priest is the best way forward.
From the beginning of our discussions, Bishop Tom, on the future of the
parish, I have consistently argued for openness, transparency and inclusivity —
the importance of dialogue and of listening to, respecting and responding to
all points of view.
Therefore, as you and the Vicar
General know, for a long time I have been uncomfortable with the restrictions
of so many confidential meetings, confidential letters and confidential
conversations regarding the future of the church in Aberystwyth. I feel there
is something unhealthy about so much secrecy. It creates suspicion and a lack
of trust – as in the present case, as parishioners learn about this secret
meeting in Carmarthen and want to know who was
invited, how they were chosen and for what purpose.
As I have stated on several occasions, I feel that
our situation in Aberystwyth would have been resolved much
earlier, and more amicably, if as Trustees we had agreed to commission an
independent structural survey to be carried out on St. Winefride's, and
committed everyone to accepting the conclusions of such a survey as a basis for
discussion.
As you know, I am also unhappy, indeed I was quite shocked, that Peter
Lindsay arranged for the locks on the presbytery door in Aberystwyth to be
changed (twice) without asking my permission as parish priest. Peter says he
did this on his own authority. As I mentioned
in my letter to Peter, although not an expert in Canon Law, I feel sure
that such an (unauthorised) action is contrary to Canon Law.
As a
Trustee, -have also been concerned that„. as Trustees we have-not been kept
fully ______ informed of developments – for
instance, it has recently come to my attention that, as Trustees, we have
instructed a new firm (Asbri) to represent us in our dealings with Ceredigion County Council. This happened before
the last Trustees' Meeting but we were
not informed of this significant development, nor were we informed that a few days
prior to our last meeting Aberystwyth. Town Council (unanimously) rejected the Diocesan plan to demolish St. Winefride's, and
(unanimously) accepted the parishioners' plan to renovate and extend St.
Winefride's. I do not understand this reluctance
or failure (of our advisors) to keep the Board of Trustees fully informed, nor do I think that it is acceptable. Of course, the
Council of Clergy is even less enlightened about the situation in
Aberystwyth.
I realise that on the subject of Aberystwyth my voice
has often been a lone, discordant, voice
on the Board of Trustees, and I think therefore that it would be more congenial
to replace me on the Trustees with someone who would
be more sympathetic to Diocesan plans and procedures and so I resign from the
Board of Trustees with immediate effect.
Once again, I thank my fellow Trustees for their
confidence in me when inviting you to appoint me to the Board
of Trustees in June 2010.
