YOUNGSTOWN — A city study on locations for the former Welsh Congregational Church — the oldest house of worship still standing in Youngstown — includes three locations in the Wick Park area and one near its current site.

But Sharon Letson, executive director of Youngstown CityScape, the nonprofit community development organization that owns the church, said none of the proposals from the city are feasible.

“The city didn’t vet the sites before issuing the report,” Letson said. “The city did some analysis, but none of the stakeholders were around when looking at or talking about the sites. They shared the report after it was done.”

The Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, which owns the property where the church is located, says it needs the site for parking. If the church isn’t moved shortly, the diocese plans to demolish it.

The diocese purchased the 159-year-old church in 2015 to take it down for parking, but agreed two years later to give it to CityScape — if the organization could relocate it.

“Saving an historic structure is not for the faint at heart,” Letson said. “We’re committed to the project. We have to find a site that’s doable. You have to look at the overhead wires and how it can be moved. The distance is a problem and because of the construction on Fifth Avenue we can’t go very far. We’re also limited with the cost of moving overhead lines. We’re still talking and looking to come up with other alternatives.”

Read more in Sunday’s Vindicator.