WORSHIPPERS at a closure-threatened church have been dealt another blow just before Christmas.

The congregation at St Joseph's in Stacksteads was recently told it would amalgamate with St Mary's in Bacup as part of a major shake-up of churches across the Salford diocese.

But parishioners have now been told the congregation will merge with St Peter's in Newchurch following the early retirement of its priest Father Gerard Duffy .

Father Philip Boast from St Joseph's will now take over both congregations at St Peter's.

Worshippers have voiced their concerns over proposed changes to the mass time tables after morning mass was moved to late afternoon.

St Joseph's 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.

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.

Rossendale Coun Michael McShea, a parishioner at St Joseph's, said: "People feel very angry about this. The Sunday mass is now going to be moved to 4pm but this is not going to suit a lot of people.

"If mass is held in the afternoon I feel less people will actually go to church because of other commitments.

"We have not been consulted about this but we will be writing to our parish priest voicing our concerns."

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.

Parishoners have written to the Bishop, asking for a meeting about the proposed closure. They are expecting a reply in the New Year.