St. Asaph Cathedral Looking For Funding After Expansion Plans Agreed

As a pointer to the future perhaps, St. Asaph Cathedral has received permission from Denbighshire planners for a £300,000 extension to make the historic building available for wider community use. Now the search for funding is on, with £30,000 having been raised so far for works that will include additional space, including toilets.

Excavations will go ahead before any works as it is thought two bishops could be buried nearby, and as the site dates from AD560, there could be more of interest to find.

The actual building dates from the 13th Century when the cathedral was rebuilt after being destroyed by Edward I, whilst it suffered further indignities at the hands of the troops of Owain Glyndwr, before being restored in the latter half of the 15th Century.

Some more works were carried out in the nineteenth century, while another extension which was completed in the 1960s is likely to be affected when work starts on the latest plans, probably next year.

The Dean of St Asaph the Reverend Nigel Williams said the extension would make the building more accommodating for wider community use. At the moment the cathedral is used for community events such as ceremonies for the nearby Glan Clwyd Welsh medium school as well as concerts.
Mr Williams said that the area around the south transept was "untidy" and in need of improvement.

He hoped work could start next year and be completed by 2015.