WORSHIPPERS at a closure-threatened church have demanded a meeting with the Bishop of Salford to discuss the controversial decision to merge with another church.

St Joseph's Church, Stacksteads, is set to close as part of the biggest-ever shake-up of Roman Catholic parishes in the Salford diocese, brought about by falling congregations and changing religious affiliations.

Parishioners were told of the proposed merger with St Mary's church, Bacup, via a letter sent from the Bishop of Salford Terence Brain, which they say offered little explanation.

About 25 members of the congregation have now written to the Bishop demanding an explanation for the decision and a meeting with him.

The move comes as part of a major parish and deanery re-organisation called Faith in the Future, which proposes a series of parish closures, amalgamations, and clusters as the number of parish priests available to preach reaches crisis point.

Councillor Christine Lamb said: "People feel very angry. They decided to write a strong letter to the Bishop asking him to come to Stacksteads to explain the reasons for the closure.

"People feel they have been dealt with very uncaringly. They are also to ask the Bishop for alternative suggestions, including looking at providing Mass in St Joseph's Primary school."

The Stacksteads and Bacup congregations split in 1892, but after many years of fundraising by the people of Stacksteads, St Joseph's Church was built in 1926.

Father Michael Walsh, Spokesman for the Salford Diocese, said the shake-up has to be implemented after the diocese lost 42 priests in the last three years.

He explained that the Faith in the Future project proposes that some churches close while other parishes will be recommended to amalgamate.