St Mary’s Church in Swansea city centre is to become the first minster church in Wales next year, as part of a multi-million-pound transformation.

The Church in Wales has announced that St Mary’s will receive a £2.8m investment over the next five years, helping to create jobs and safeguard the future of the Swansea landmark.

Minster is a title given to a large or important church, especially a collegiate or cathedral church, and reflects the importance of St Mary’s to the life of Swansea.

Vicar of St Mary’s, Canon Justin Davies, said: “We are delighted and excited that the Church in Wales has announced significant investment in St Mary's Church which sits in the heart of the second city of Wales.

“This will enable the employment of new members of staff, both clergy and lay workers, increasing our ability to serve the Swansea city centre community, be they residents, workers, visitors, refugees or the homeless.

“We will be creating new meeting rooms and offices, young people’s safe spaces and new worship facilities, allowing a wider and more diverse range of worship to take place. We will welcome visitors with a range of activities to explore St Mary's, the history of Swansea and its people that we hold inside.”

St Mary’s was rebuilt in the 1950s after being burned to the ground during the Nazis’ three-day blitz of the city in World War II. It will be designated a minster church next year.

The money for St Mary's transformation has been made available through the Church in Wales’ £100m Growth Fund, which it has described as a “once-in-a generation opportunity to resource confident and consistent evangelism throughout Wales”.