by Mary Cullen

The Archdiocese of Glasgow has announced a framework for taking decisions about the future of its parishes which could see widespread church closures in the next ten years.

Forty parishes across the archdiocese have been identified as ‘fundamental to the provision of pastoral care in the area’ and are expected to remain open for ten years or more. A further 22 parishes ‘support pastoral care in important geographical areas’ and are expected to remain in this role for another five to ten years. A third group of 27 were deemed ‘less central to the overall framework of pastoral care by virtue of their smaller size, location, or other key factors’. They could face closure or amalgamation within five years.

The framework emerged from a consultation process which began last year. Deaneries across the archdiocese were asked to consider the viability of their parishes against a backdrop of dwindling congregations and a projected shortage of parish-based priests, whose numbers are expected to fall from 80 to fewer than 50 across the archdiocese in the next ten years.

Dr Mary Cullen is editor of Open House.

Photo by Dominic Cullen