I write from a community affected by Bishop Peter Brignall’s decision to restructure the Wrexham Diocese, as reported by The Tablet last week (“Third of churches to close”, News from Britain and Ireland, 30 April). In the bishop’s pastoral letter we are asked to have flexibility, openness and missionary creativity. This is precisely what the plan for the diocese does not have. The proposed changes perpetuate the old, outdated model: bishop at the top; priests “in charge”; laypeople somewhere at the bottom of the order.

A shortage of priests is not a valid reason to close churches. My parish is one of those due to be axed. It is a small but vibrant community of committed, competent people who already manage everything, except the celebration of Mass, and would be more than capable of taking on all the other responsibilities of a traditional parish priest. We already look after everything to do with the building, all at our own expense, not that of the diocese or the priest.