St Mary’s embarks on its new chapter as Swansea Minster – the first minster in Wales, reflecting its importance both to the community and as a civic church.

It has stood for centuries as a Swansea landmark, even rising from the ashes after being burned to the ground during the Blitz, and now St Mary’s is embarking on its new chapter as Swansea Minster.

The Minster Church of St Mary, Swansea with Holy Trinity, to give it its formal title, is not only a first for the city and diocese, but is the first minster in Wales, reflecting its importance both to the community and as a civic church.

It was officially declared a minster – a title given to a large or important church, especially a collegiate or cathedral church – at a special service which brought together people from across the city and the wider Church in Wales.

Rector of Swansea Minster, Rev’d Canon Justin Davies, said: “There has been a buzz around the city. I think people are genuinely pleased that the church is getting recognised for what it is, and in the place it is.

“It’s also seen as a boost to the city. Many cities are having difficult times, particularly city centres where things have not been easy for many years, so to have something so positive happening in the middle of Swansea, as part of a greater regeneration that’s taking place, is a really good thing.”

Swansea Minster will receive a £2.8m investment over the next five years through the Church in Wales’ £100m Growth Fund, to complete the transformation.

The service featured specially-commissioned music by composer Sir Karl Jenkins and the sermon was preached by Swansea-born former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, who described it as a great day for the city.

“I’ve known St Mary’s for 60 years or so now, and it’s always been a place that’s had a very secure place in my heart. It is wonderful to see it now, really stepping into a new kind of work for the whole city to, I hope, raise morale and imagination and aspiration in the city as a whole.

“I think to have a place like this that’s designated in a special way, which has a group of clergy devoted to specialist ministries who can work in different areas of common life, this is wonderful for Swansea, wonderful for the Church’s profile here and I really wish it every blessing.”