Madam,

It is my wish to defend some of the churches closed or about to be in mid and west Wales, as there has been much heartbreak for loyal parishioners.

Running a diocese is not easy, particularly when there is a shortage of clergy, but it seems a shame that the bishops are following a policy that closures are the answer to the challenges now facing the church.

Many churches of all denominations were built through the sacrifices and hard work of former parishioners. Whilst one cannot keep a church open because of this, it would be an insult to the memory of our forefathers (and foremothers!) if churches they built were closed without any fight to save them.

When a church closes those disadvantaged the most are the young, seniors, disabled parishioners and those who do not have their own transport.

Already some parishioners are unable to attend a place of worship as without their own transport they cannot reach places still open.

Within the British Isles there are a small number of ‘volunteer’ priests, those willing to minister in their spare time to parishioners who have lost their church. Last year one such priest came four times to Aberdyfi as there were no services because of the most unfortunate illness of the resident priest.

He said: “I am delighted to be able to minister to you. For me this is just one extra service but if I was at home in India I would be dong many more which would be attended by hundreds of worshippers.”

Aberdyfi may only be a few miles from Tywyn where services are to be retained, but those without their own transport cannot get there as like many Welsh places on a winter Sunday there is no public transport.

It is sad to note Aberdyfi, when it had a resident priest, was well attended and would still be in future between Easter and October.

In places where churches are closed or are about to be, many parishioners want to run them as houses of prayer where they can gather together when no priest is available. Bishops talk about the need for community but parishioners needs a focal point - their church.

Obviously if parishioners kept their churches they would have to fund the costs. For example the vibrant Catholic community at Llanidloes do not want their church to close but if it does they want to run it as a pilgrimage centre.

Sadly, after over 40 years’ generosity by the good people of the Church in Wales at St Mary’s Beddgelert, Sunday Mass ceased there in April.

The local people and clergy said the Catholics would always be welcomed back. To respond to their goodwill, rather than pull out completely, surely a ‘volunteer’ priest could come back once or twice a year to keep faith both with local Catholics and as a recognition of the kindness of their hosts.

Closing churches at Aberdyfi, Llanberis, Criccieth, St Garmon’s and Morfa Nefyn will in the fullness of time be regretted as we have got to hope that one day people will come back to worship. Then we will need the churches.

I urge the Diocese that, as long as the parishioners can pay for the upkeep of them, let them remain as houses of prayer and where there could be occasional services.

It will be far cheaper to keep them than to demolish now and have to rebuild years later.

As there is a genuine shortage of priests why not consider mid-week services when Sundays cannot be served, so the parishioners do have a chance to worship rather than have none at all?

Yours etc,

Christopher Magner, Dunval Road, Bridgnorth.

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