The Catholic Church in Glasgow, Scotland, is set to close 24 churches as part of a major restructuring exercise driven by declining Mass attendance and a growing shortage of priests.
The Archdiocese of Glasgow plans to reduce its parishes from about 80 to approximately 40 over the next five to 10 years, through mergers and the closure of church buildings across Glasgow and parts of Dunbartonshire.
Archbishop William Nolan announced the proposals in a letter to congregations, acknowledging the emotional toll the changes would have on worshippers whose lives and family histories are closely connected to the churches.
“There are too many parishes but too few people, too many churches but too few priests,” he said, explaining that attendance had fallen significantly since many of the churches were established.
Nolan added that some of the largest churches were situated in areas with the fewest worshippers, making the existing structure increasingly difficult to sustain.
According to reports by the BBC and The Times, the number of active priests in the archdiocese has fallen by about a third in less than five years. Only one priest is under 45, while most are above 60, raising concerns about the ability to maintain existing parish services.
Ronnie Convery, the archdiocese’s communications director, said the shortage of priests was a major factor behind the decision. He explained that changing population patterns had also left some churches serving communities that had significantly declined in size.
The proposals, which cover Glasgow East and North, Glasgow South, Glasgow West, East Dunbartonshire and West Dunbartonshire, have received approval in principle. Local consultations will precede individual closures, with some changes expected within five years and others taking up to a decade.
The restructuring comes amid a wider decline in religious participation across Scotland. The 2022 census found that more than half of Scotland’s population identified as having no religion, while the proportion identifying as Catholic had also fallen over the preceding decade.
The challenge extends beyond the Catholic Church. Scotland’s Churches Trust has warned that hundreds of church buildings have closed since 2020, with further closures anticipated as congregations shrink and maintenance costs rise.
Heritage campaigners say the consequences reach beyond worship, as churches often serve as community gathering places and repositories of local history.
For many parishioners, the proposed closures will mean losing familiar places of prayer, remembrance and fellowship. Archbishop Nolan acknowledged the pain but argued that the church must confront changing realities to remain sustainable.
