A coffee morning with ''My Gran'' This church has some family history that I know would mean so much to the people of Carmarthen, A small donation could make a big difference. 

Taken from the Carmarthen Journal :-

St Peter’s Church in Carmarthen needs to find £50,000 to stay open next year.

The church is under increasing financial pressure and leaders say keeping it open will become a struggle over the coming year and beyond.

Together with a decreasing congregation, the Reverend Leigh Richardson said the future is far from certain for the church which stands at the top of King Street.

He said the Grade II listed church is looking at £50,000 costs to keep going next year.

With very little now in reserves looking ahead Mr Richardson said people needed to use and support the church before its too late and the threat of closure looms. He said: “It’s quite sad, because old Carmarthen people want St Peter’s to be there for their big family events, whether they be baptisms, funerals or weddings, but they fail to realise that for St Peter’s to be there in the long term, they need to be coming to church now, and contributing now.

“There is a saying in the Church in Wales at the moment, that ‘no church is too big to close’ – that is, if there is not some miraculous turnaround, in numbers and financial contributions, and if expenditure continues to outstrip income, then St Peter’s will, sooner or later, close.”

Mr Richardson went onto say: “Churches such as St Peter’s are under a great deal of financial pressure these days, not only do we have our running costs to pay, but our first call is on the Ministry Share which is our contribution to the maintenance of ministry in the Church in Wales. “Ministry Share is what pays vicar’s stipends and pensions, and without it, there would be no clergy to minister.

“St Peter’s not only has to pay it’s share, but also to keep a listed building in a habitable condition.”

Mr Richardson who is Area Dean of Carmarthen said: “It is like a handful of 70-year-olds trying to keep the roof on Carmarthen Castle, without any state funding and this is becoming increasingly difficult to do, with a declining aging congregation. Sadly, we’re in a part of town that is less populated now than it was, and only a fraction of townspeople still come to church.

“Most of our congregation travel in, some from as far away as St. Clears and Pencader.”

Aside from running costs the church has had to deal with vandalism and antisocial behaviour in recent years adding to upkeep costs.

In August 2012, the large window, dating back to the 1800s was smashed and eventually replaced at a cost of £20,000 after it was smashed and graves desecrated

Journal readers and businesses rallied to dig deep donating thousands to help cover the costs.

An ornate money box was also stolen last summer. While trying to raise income is an up hill battle for the church efforts are being made to create space within the church to make space for an interactive display for the Black Book of Carmarthen. St Peter’s Church is also hoping to tell the story of Sir Rhys ap Thomas — a local man who fought alongside Henry VII at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.

He is understood to have slain Richard III at the battle and is entombed at the church, having previously been at the town’s former Friary.

Following huge global interest in the discovery of Richard III’s skeleton remains in a Leicester car park, Carmarthen hopes showcasing Sir Rhys will attract thousands of people to the town.

Mr Richardson, along with local councillor Alun Lenny, is aiming to create a permanent public exhibition in his honour at the church, with digital screens and interactive displays. In addition there are plans to move his tomb to a more central and prominent position.

He was originally entombed at the town’s former Friary before being moved to the church, where he remains with his second wife Janet. But now both schemes are on hold because while they would generate income for the church there are no funds there to kickstart the work needed.

Mr Richardson added: “There are still plans to reorder the south aisle of the church to make space for an interactive display for the Black Book of Carmarthen, and to move Rhys ap Thomas’s tomb into a better position as well as having areas for sitting and reading and possibly coffee — but these plans have to take a back burner in the current financial climate.

“Journal readers donated £3,000 in 2011 towards the Black Book project which is waiting to be used for development purposes.”