Glasgow Catholic Archdiocese Plans to Close 24 Churches as Attendance Falls 55 Percent

The Catholic Archdiocese of Glasgow is moving to close 24 churches and cut its number of parishes in half, in what officials are calling the largest restructuring in the archdiocese's history.

Archbishop William Nolan announced the plan this month, citing two main problems: too many parishes with too few people, and too many churches with too few priests.

Mass attendance in the archdiocese has dropped 55 percent over the past 20 years. The number of active priests has fallen by one-third in just the last five years. Projections suggest that within 20 years, as few as eight priests may remain to serve the area. Most current priests are over 60, with only one reported to be under 45.

The 2022 Scottish census found that a majority of people in Scotland now identify as non-religious. The Catholic population in the archdiocese has declined by more than 117,000 people over the past decade. Many churches were built in areas that have since lost large portions of their populations.

Closures will not happen all at once. The archdiocese plans to carry out the changes over five to ten years, with each proposed closure going through a formal process under canon law, including discussions at the parish and deanery levels.

Archbishop Nolan compared the consolidation to pruning a vine to encourage future growth. "We have to face up to reality," he said.

Some parishioners have expressed concern about accessibility, particularly for those without cars or in areas with limited public transport. Critics have also said the plan focuses on managing decline rather than addressing the root causes of falling attendance.