|PIC1|Old church buildings that adapt to 21st century living are breathing new life and energy into the community around them.

That's the message the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, will give at a conference on Monday which will explore how churches can make the best of their assets and reinvent themselves to serve today's needs.

From developing conference facilities to catering for schools groups, to offering counselling sessions, Dr Morgan wants congregations to think creatively about their church buildings, develop a vision of their wider use, and play a central role in regenerating towns and villages.

The conference, Transforming Communities and Congregations, will hear about flagship projects in the Church in Wales' northern dioceses of Bangor and St Asaph which are changing people's perspective of the role of the church.

Dr Morgan, who will chair the Church in Wales conference, says these projects are all good examples of churches renewing themselves and working in partnership with their communities.

"This is about changing perspectives as well as reality." he said. "Too often we are perceived to be rather peripheral to the mainstream Monday-to-Friday life of organisations, communities and individuals.

"This is another way to help us move from the edge of people's radar screens so that they can see the relevance of Christianity to their lives.

Dr Morgan stressed the need for churches to remain open on weekdays.

"A church that is closed Monday to Friday is the worst possible advertisement for Christianity," he continued. "We cannot go on locking up our treasures in closed buildings any more. We have to open the doors of the churches physically, as well as metaphorically.

"Developing community buildings will involve us in new relationships with our communities and opens doors for us to rediscover and develop a proper and appropriate place alongside others in our parishes across the whole of Wales."