Bringing heritage to life

The Presiding Officer of the Senedd and local MS, Elin Jones, has unveiled a plaque to mark the completion of a major refurbishment at a north Ceredigion church.

There has been a church on the site of St Michael's, Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, since the 13th century. Its iconic white tower is a prominent local landmark. But climbing it has never been for the faint-hearted...until now.

"The community wanted the church to be put back in good order and to be able to appreciate its special qualities," Peter Garson, project co-ordinator, says. "But despite standing over the village for 700 years most people who live here have never been up [the tower] with good reason - it was dark, damp and dangerous."

Now though, that has changed. Not only has the tower been waterproofed - the original purpose of the project - but rotten timbers have been replaced and a newly-designed set of oak stairs installed to facilitate access.

"We haven't been able to do everything on our list," Peter Garson added. "But we have taken a big step forward and the church is now ready for the wider community to make greater use of it and treat it is the centre-piece of the community heritage. It's not enough to save heritage, you have to make it live."