IN your report (March 12) 'New lease of life for old hall' it was said that St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Gunnislake, was closed last year because of 'dwindling attendance'.
It is my understanding that this is not true and that the real reason was the dwindling number of priests available to take services in Cornwall, as elsewhere. Attendance at St Joseph's was excellent until the time of the Sunday Mass was changed to make it easier for a priest to take the service. The new time was much less convenient for the congregation and numbers did indeed then fall.
The decline in the number of men entering the priesthood is a great problem here and elsewhere. In France and other parts of this country this does not always, however, lead to the closing of churches. The laity simply play a greater role.
One can't help feeling that it is a pity this didn't happen in Gunnislake. It would have saved a good deal of heartache and the breaking up of a valuable little community.
Ian Courtis
Thornleigh
Middle Dimson