St Mael and St Sulien Church

Corwen Church Transformed into Vibrant Community Hub Following £40,000 Grant Award

St Mael and St Sulien Church has officially completed its ambitious project, "Bringing Corwen Church into the Heart of the Community," marking a new chapter for the historic site as a multi-purpose community space. Supported by a £40,000.00 grant from the Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm Fund, the project has introduced vital modern facilities to ensure the building is accessible and useful for all residents.

The transformation focused on removing barriers to access and providing the infrastructure necessary for diverse public events. Key installations include:

1. New Kitchen Facilities: Allowing the church to host funeral teas, wedding receptions, and social meals that keep the community connected.

2. Disabled Toilets and Lift Access: These additions have opened the doors to many who previously found the building difficult to enter, particularly those with additional needs.

3. Configurable Workshop Space: The church now offers flexible space for up to five weekly workshop sessions and training opportunities.

Supporting Local Recovery and Wellbeing

Beyond physical changes, the project is playing a key role in the regeneration of Corwen following the Covid pandemic. By partnering with other local assets—such as the community-owned Owain Glyndŵr hotel for "Beer and Carols" evenings—the church is actively supporting the local hospitality economy and town tourism.

"The toilets, lift, and kitchen have opened the church up to many who found it difficult to access in the past,"

 noted project representatives in the completion report. Visitors have already begun to praise the efforts, describing the church as "a place of peace" and a "wonderful place to pray".

The church is already seeing a significant increase in engagement, with hundreds of visitors recorded since reopening in April. Looking toward the New Year, the community can look forward to new initiatives, including a boxing academy hosted in the newly created space to support local youth.

With over 25 volunteers currently involved and a target of 35 within the next year, St Mael and St Sulien is firmly positioned as the spiritual and social heart of Corwen.