A group campaigning against a proposed overhaul of Tenby's 'little church by the sea' have said that they believe the changes will strip the place of worship of its 'atmosphere, peace, stillness and spirituality' which is what brings people to the church.

The 'Save St. Julian's Campaign' has even gained support from local actor Charles Dale, who posted on the group's Facebook page that he had chosen St. Julians Church, which is situated alongside Tenby Harbour, for his son's christening because "it is an iconic memory for so many of us as it is and it needs to remain as it is."

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) in Tenby unanimously agreed back in 2012 to support a proposal to re-order St. Julian's as a Youth Church and an exhibition of stills of the proposed plans have recently been on display at St. Mary's Church in Tenby's High Street. However, the campaigners say that the church that has withstood many a storm "should not be stripped of its heart."

"Having seen the plans, I am disappointed and distraught at the fact that the entire interior, the heart, the soul of St. Julian's is being torn out, and made to look like a visitor centre," said spokesperson for the Save St Julian's Campaign group, Sarah Williams.

St. Julian's, which has stood for 136 years, after the original was torn down when the mouth of the harbour was widened, has withstood two world wars, storms, and blessed many an outgoing seaman, but according to the campaigners against the changes, the church has recently been neglected by the clergy.

"They don't take services on Sundays, even though these services do continue in the hands of the warden, who does a sterling job. Apart from weddings and other 'official' happenings, the clergy of Tenby rarely visit St. Julian's," continued Sarah.

"I am very aware that the little church by the sea is in need of a little TLC, the heating, lighting and wiring needs renewal, to make this spiritual haven warm and bright and even more welcoming than what it already is, but we have great concern that if St. Julian's undergoes this transformation, it will stand empty.

"People will not and do not want to see this piece of Tenby history changed in any way.

"We are all in the belief that if the clergy get their way, St. Julian's will not survive and will lay forgotten, like much of our history nowadays," added Sarah, who has launched a petition against the changes, a Facebook page (facebook.com/savestjulianstenby) and also received the backing of the Tenby Civic Society.

Rector of Tenby, Canon Andrew Davies, recently said of the proposals that at a very basic level, St. Julians was in need of major renovation and modernisation.

"St. Julians has served our local community well for over a century, and we must make sure that that ministry continues for another century," he remarked.

"St. Julian's is not to be just a 'youth church' and definitely not a 'youth club' - it is to be a church for all, fit for the 21st century, and above all a fit offering to God," added Canon Davies.

A meeting is to be held at Church House at 6 pm on Thursday, April 3, where team vicar, Rev. Robb Wainwright, will run through the 3D model plans for St. Julian's for interested parties.