A NEWPORT church being forced to close due to structural defects is exploring the possibility of holding services at city centre venues including the multiplex cinema inside Friars Walk shopping centre.

St Paul’s in Commercial Street decided to leave their 1836, Grade II listed building this month after realising repairs to its building would cost at least £500,000.

St Paul’s vicar Rev Justin Groves likened the task of raising these funds to a “financial miracle”.

The church, said to be a rare example of pre-Gothic revival, could be turned into flats run by a housing association, according to the Church in Wales.

St Paul’s is now looking at the possibility of holding Sunday services inside the Cineworld multiplex at the £90m Friars Walk shopping centre set to open in the city centre in November.

Cineworld declined to comment yesterday but the cinema chain has previously allowed church groups to use their cinemas in several parts of the UK including Cardiff, Hull, Yorkshire, and Enfield in London.

Rev Groves said: “This is one of a number of exiting options we are looking at.

“We believe that our calling is to the city centre and that we very much have a future together.

“We are excited to continue pioneering new ways of being and sharing the good news as we welcome people to meet Jesus.”

St Paul’s was forced to move into a shop opposite the church in Commercial Street after a bracket holding a beam in the ceiling collapsed in 2013.

However, the arrangement came to an end and the flock moved back into the church in September last year.

The church council is now looking at worshipping inside the 8-screen multiplex, while renting a small base for administrative purposes inside the city centre.

Alternatively, the church could rent a large empty shop in the city centre where it would worship and deliver services including a valued foodbank, toddlers' group and night shelter.

Renting a large shop in Newport City Centre cost the church around £15,000 a year, according to its church council.

St Paul’s is planning to vacate the premises by January 31 at which point the Church in Wales will take control of the premises.

Archdeacon Jonathan Williams indicated the church building could be converted into flats and taken over by a housing association.

* St Paul’s is raising funds for its move. Any donations should be made by cheque to “St Paul’s PCC”, St Paul’s church, Commercial Street, NP20 1LU.