CHURCH CHANGED BUT SPIRIT IS SAME.

Byline: By Rebecca Meredith South Wales Echo 

The face of one church may have changed in its 100 years but it remains the centre of the community for its loyal parishioners.

Originally built in 1905 and named after St Catherine of Alexandria in honour of Katherine Anthony, the daughter of one of the main benefactors, St Catherine's Church in Caerphilly cost just pounds 400 and accommodated 160 people.

After World War I, plans were put forward to build a new church but lack of funds meant the existing church was instead enlarged in 1923 and a church hall added.

The original church hall was replaced in the late 1980s but in the 1990s, after deterioration, the people of St Catherine's set about fundraising for a new church once again.

In eight years they eventually raised the pounds 130,000 necessary to re-build St Catherine's and the new church building was completed in time for the Millennium. Reverend David Treharne, 32, has been curate at the church since June 2004. He said: 'St Catherine's has a warm, comfortable and modern church building which I like to think reflects the ministry that the people of St Catherine's try to undertake.

'We hope that we can connect with people, loving and serving each other and our community in the same way that God in Jesus Christ loved and served us.

'From what I can gather, St Catherine's Church has always been a vibrant little church that has had a strong involvement with its local community.'

Every month until July 2006 the church will hold centenary celebrations and in November the Archbishop of Wales Dr Barry Morgan will visit to take a special centenary service.

Mr Treharne added: 'Society has changed and church and Christianity is not central to people's lives as it was years ago.

'Like every church we need to find ways of connecting with people and show that Christianity is relevant to each individual's life in the 21st Century.

'The centenary at St Catherine's is a great opportunity to do this.'