Sir,
Having lived away from Pembrokeshire for 10 years now, I still have a keen interest in the area having been born and bred here, and come back to visit family at every opportunity.
On a recent visit home I was shocked to hear that there are plans to make Crunwere Church (Llanteg) a 'manageable ruin'. Most local people will be familiar with this landmark as its imposing Norman tower is visible from the road approaching Llanteg, and it is the first structure you will see on entering Pembrokeshire.
I understand that the Church in Wales has limited funding and, as such, hard decisions have to be made. The structure is sound, but needs work done to it and the church lacks a viable congregation, but I still ask myself, what other nation on earth would demolish a place of worship?
I feel it would be a crime to lose such a building; there has been a church on the site since Norman times. Would we treat a castle in the same way? This is a question of preserving our heritage for future generations, and I wonder what our forefathers would make of such an act.
Recently, I read an article on how Cadw funding helped to preserve a 'Dovecote'. It saddens me that such a structure ranks above a church. Surely funding for the preservation and upkeep of this church could and should be forthcoming from Cadw, National Lottery funding or a local government body.
Paul Beynon,
4 Lamesley House, 50 High Town Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire