St Catherine's Gorseinon is celebrating two significant milestones in its life and mission – recognition for environmental stewardship and continued progress in a major Church in Wales–supported redevelopment project placing the church at the heart of local community life.

The church has recently been awarded the Eco Church Bronze Award, recognising a wide range of environmental improvements delivered as part of a major building redevelopment over the past year. These include the installation of solar PV, new and more efficient boilers, improved insulation, LED lighting, pipe lagging, bike racks, and the addition of bird and bat boxes to support local wildlife.

Environmental sustainability was embedded from the outset of the redevelopment. Design decisions were shaped by a desire to lower carbon emissions wherever possible within available funding, while contributing towards the Church in Wales Net Zero target.

Alongside this recognition, St Catherine's Gorseinon continues to move forward with its long-term vision to become a centre of mission and social transformation. The church has already raised £1.6 million, enabling significant building improvements and the creation of welcoming, flexible spaces for worship, mission and community use.

This work lays the foundations for the Stepping Stones to Faith project, which has been awarded a further £2.8 million from the Church Growth Fund. That investment will support the development of St Catherine's as a Mission Hub, serving the wider Llwchwr Ministry Area and resourcing confident, outward-looking mission.

The Stepping Stones to Faith phase will enable the growth of new ministries and roles, including a Community Evangelist, a Children and Families Pastor and an Older People's Chaplain, alongside further development of spaces that support outreach, discipleship and partnership with local organisations.

Reflecting on the vision behind the work, the Vicar, Rev'd Dr Adrian Morgan, said: "All of this grew out of listening – listening to God and listening to the people of Gorseinon. Again and again, we heard a longing for connection, belonging and hope. This project is our response to that call, seeking to place the church at the centre of community life."

Speaking about the Eco Church award, he added: "Caring for creation is not an optional extra for Christians – it is part of our discipleship. We believe the world is God's gift, entrusted to our care, and that how we treat it is part of our witness. From the earliest design stages, we asked how we could make responsible choices that would benefit both people and planet."

Dr Morgan continued: "Receiving the Eco Church Bronze Award is a real encouragement, but it's also a reminder that this is a journey. As our project moves into its next stages, we hope to make further progress, deepening our commitment to sustainability alongside mission and growth."

Already home to a wide range of activities and support services, St Catherine's Gorseinon is looking ahead with confidence and hope. The combination of environmental action, investment in mission, and a clear focus on serving the whole community reflects a church seeking to live out its calling in practical and visible ways.

The church asks for continued prayer as the project progress, trusting God's guidance in this ongoing work of renewal, mission and care for creation.