Dioceses face up to having fewer priests

At least four churches have been closed in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, and the Bishop of Northampton has disclosed that he is struggling to provide a resident priest for every parish.

In both cases bishops are making changes to take account of the falling number of priests. The Archdiocese of Birmingham has said the diocese is closing churches where the “future is not sustainable”.

Announcing the start of a consultation on the future organisation of the diocese, the Archbishop of Birmingham, Bernard Longley, wrote in 2012 he could not guarantee a resident priest for each parish. Figures given at that time by the diocese said it had 224 parishes with 350 active priests and 17 seminarians.

A spokeswoman for the diocese of Birmingham said that there were 200 parish churches with an estimated Catholic population of over 285,000.

The diocese would not say how many churches had been closed but investigations by The Tablet found that at least four have been shut, while at least 15 parishes have been merged so that one priest is now serving two or more churches. Two religious orders have also been welcomed into the diocese to take over the running of parishes.

“Some of the changes that affect parishes will create a sense of sadness for both parishioners and the clergy,” the spokeswoman said. “However, we are all guided by the belief that our Church is not just made up of bricks and mortar, but the living presence of the Holy Spirit who guides and directs us all.” She explained that planning was needed to take into account demographic changes in the Catholic population and to ensure “a hope-filled future”.

In Northampton, Bishop Peter Doyle said in a homily last month that “the reality of fewer priests is beginning to bite” and that the diocese must expect to have just 39 priests to fulfil its mission. The diocese has 69 parishes and 27 Mass centres.
“In the past six years, seven priests have been ordained and two more good priests have joined the diocese. Training for the priesthood we have six students. But I am going to struggle to provide a resident priest for every parish; and this coming year, with at least three priests expected to retire, there will inevitably be gaps.”

The bishop said that he was happy for services of the word and communion by lay people to be celebrated occasionally but did not want this to be the norm on Sundays.

He wants structured training for lay people to work as assistants in parishes and chaplaincies.