TWO Bolton churches will close after the Diocese of Salford published its plan for its future organisation.

The Doicese has said that following consultation, St Peter and St Paul church in Pilkington Street in Daubhill — which is currently not being used — will formally close.

Also in Bolton, one of either St Thomas of Canterbury in Lonsdale Road, Heaton, St James the Great in Bowland Drive, Montseratt or St Joseph’s in Horace Street, Halliwell will be closed after a further consultation period with parishioners.

A number of parishes will also be amalgamated within the Deanery of St Joseph, which covers Bolton.

The changes will reduce the number of parishes in Bolton from 18 to 12 and the number of diocesan priests from 13 to 10.

The church needs to reform because there are fewer priests and fewer people regularly attending church.

In the summer, the diocese produced draft plans for its reorganisation and said it has had more than 2000 responses since then.

The published plans, released by the Bishop of Salford, Rt Rev John Arnold, will now see 22 churches close across the region and more than 100 parishes involved in amalgamations.

The church said these changes have been developed for a number of reasons including to encourage parishioners to support and manage the general administration of parishes.  This is intended to give priests more time to perform their pastoral duties, including the celebration of Mass, ministering to the sick, elderly and infirm and working in schools and colleges with young people.

Bishop Arnold said: “This plan is a real chance to make changes that will help build, sustain and grow parishes fit for future generations. Not just for members of our Church in Bolton but also for the wider community we live in.

“The plan allows the Diocese of Salford to look forward, creating outward facing parishes, responding to the call from Pope Francis to develop ‘missionary parishes’.

“The Catholic Church plays an essential role in delivering key services across the world and we have some excellent examples of local projects and groups here in Salford. I am hopeful these changes will support these projects to continue and enable other projects to emerge.

He added:”I understand that where churches are closing this will be met with initial sadness from parishioners. But I am sure that these feelings can be overcome as our new communities come together in prayer and to welcome one another.”