Singer backs ancient church fund

There has been a church on the site since the 6th century

Singer Mary Hopkin is backing efforts to secure the future of a sixth century church site in the Swansea Valley.

The sixties star will be at the first fund-raising event organised by people working to restore Llangiwg Church.

Hopkin and her sister Carol grew-up in its shadow in Pontardawe and said it had a special place in their hearts.

The Grade II-listed building is being sold by the Church in Wales and a not-for-profit charitable trust is hoping to buy it for community use.

After four decades out of the public eye, 55-year-old Hopkin has been helping Dolly Parton on a reworking of her 1968 Number One hit Those Were The Days.

Mary Hopkin is attending Saturday's fundraising event

Carol Hopkin said her sister would be travelling from Cardiff to attend Saturday's fundraising fair.

"Peaceful and serene"

Ms Hopkin said her family moved to Pontardawe in the 1950s when her father worked as architect for the local authority and she and he sister spent a lot of time at the church and in its grounds.

"I was married there. It's a very serene, very peaceful site. It's very special," said Carol Hopkin.

There has been a church on the remote hillside looking out over the Swansea Valley since as early as the 6th Century.

The current tower is a Norman construction built in the 13th century while the aisle section dates back to Tudor times.

The last service was held there at Christmas 2001 and the building has since been de-consecrated.

But there have been security problems because of its isolation.

The Norman tower dates back to the 13th century

Ms Hopkin added: "We have succeeded in persuading the church to take it off the market and lease the site to us for a few years while there is a feasibility study."

She said it could be put to a number of uses.

"We do not have much in the Swansea Valley to commemorate its industry - it would be nice to do that in a little museum."

Campaigners are holding their first fundraising event, a spring fair, at the School Room in Pontardawe from 1000GMT on Saturday.

It will be officially opened by former Wales and British Lions rugby scrum-half Robert Jones.

"She (Mary) is coming along to support us," added Ms Hopkin.