If you can remember the 1960s, you weren’t there – so they say. Yet, in the 1960s a singular and beautiful church was built in the unassuming town of Gorseinon in south-west Wales near the Loughor estuary. It was dedicated as the church of the Blessed Sacrament.
This church is the only one of its kind in the Principality and one of only three in Britain. It was built entirely from funds raised by the parish.
The story of how a tiny Welsh parish of only 200 could raise the money to pull off such a remarkable feat and the meaning behind the rare design is told in a new book called Fanfare for a Church. It is a book to rival Dan Brown’s – except that this is a true story.
One of the authors, Paul Robinson, says: “We wrote the book to preserve a little bit of history – nothing momentous like a war or a coronation – but something about real, ordinary people who made a difference and left something tangible behind them.”
Paul Robinson, a graduate of Manchester University, spent 10 years teaching and 15 years as a journalist.
Robert Robinson, an architect of more than 30 years standing, designed the church and oversaw its construction.
The authors Robert and Paul Robinson attended the launch recently in Gorseinon. It is published by Y Lolfa, priced £6.95.
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