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Relief as ancient church finally gets a toilet

Gareth Simpson/National Churches Trust St Mary the Virgin Church has three stained glass windows around the entrance at the front, with a steeple at the back. A number of gravestones can be seen, along with two large trees.Gareth Simpson/National Churches Trust
The Grade II listed church has been without a toilet since it was opened in 1853

Relief is finally on the way for visitors to a Victorian church which has been without a toilet since since it opened 171 years ago.

Until now, anyone using St Mary the Virgin in Risca, Caerphilly county, has had to walk across a busy road and go up a long steep path to a nearby hall if they want to spend a penny.

But an accessible loo will be installed at the 1853 Grade II listed building as running water is put in for the first time.

Churchwarden Janet Jones called it "a huge relief to all visitors, especially for those with mobility issues and families with young children".

She said: "Unfortunately, sometimes the church, for whatever reason, does not keep up with the speed of change within communities and can fail to provide the facilities needed."

She said the church was "still a central place of worship in our valley community" and there was delight it would now be able to host community social events and visits by local schools.

Ms Jones said St Mary's was the latest in a long line of churches that had occupied this site since the 13th Century, with settlements going back to Roman times.

Gareth Simpson/National Churches Trust Rows of wooden pews can be seen inside the church, with the altar at the front and a number of stained glass windows. The walls are cream-coloured with a pillar between one of the rows of pews. Gareth Simpson/National Churches Trust
The church, which was opened by Bishop Ollivant of Llandaff in 1853, was built on the site of a much earlier church

The funding has come from the Jane Hodge Foundation on the recommendation of the National Churches Trust (NCT).

It will also involve a new kitchen servery area being fitted.

The funding is part of £871,696 urgent funding payout from the NCT to help keep churches across the UK open and in use.

NCT chief executive Claire Walker said the funding for the "beautiful building" would "help to keep the church building open and serving local people".

Gareth Simpson of NCT Wales said: "Adding in toilets and kitchens to churches can make them a much more welcoming space for the community and help to create a sustainable income stream as it makes the building easier to hire out for events and meetings."