ITS congregation may soon be moving from its airy, Grade Two-listed 1830s home to a venue of a harsher 1960s vintage - but the role of Newport's St Paul's Church as a dynamic force for good in the city remains.

That is the message from priest-in-charge at St Paul's, the Reverend Justin Groves, with the doors about to close on 180 years of history at its Commercial Street site.

The church is set to move its base of operations to the city's former post office on Bridge Street, in a couple of weeks.

And while outwardly and inwardly the two buildings could not offer a greater contrast, the relocation is about far more than just bricks - or in this case, dressed stone and concrete - and mortar.

Around 80 worshippers young and old turned up at St Paul's yesterday for a service to mark the imminent move, celebrating the role the church has played as a place of worship, and of shelter and support to generations of city dwellers.

Worshippers were provided with a blank sheet of paper and asked to write down their memories of the church and their hopes for its future in its new home.

Mr Groves recalled the day in 2013 when it was discovered that a wooden bracket, one of 12 high up under the main ceiling, crashed to the floor, kicking off what he described as an "extraordinary" two years which was culminating in the forthcoming move.

Subsequent surveys had revealed that around £500,000 would be needed to make the church safe and sound, and faced with that, a move is the only option.

The building may have a future as a residential development.

Mr Groves said it is "a point of real sorrow" that the church building must be given up, but that St Paul's has an exciting future as a positive presence in the city centre.

Existing activities run by St Paul's, from services and prayer meetings, to men's and women's groups, children's and family activities, and the food bank will also be moving to the new venue.

Mr Groves has previously told the Argus that St Paul's is "very much alive and kicking" and its focus during and after the move will be very much on people rather than place.