AN application to convert St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Gunnislake into residential accommodation after it closed last year due to a shortage of priests has saddened local churchgoers. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth had decided to close the church as part of a review of all its buildings and the congregation was joined with Tavistock after the last mass on Easter Day last year. The site was sold off by the diocese and the application for one dwelling and a detached garage has been made by the new owners Mr and Mrs Richardson. Jo Hall, who was baptised at the church, said she felt desperately sad about it because many important events in her family history had taken place there, including the marriage of her parents and three sisters. She said:'From the time the Bishop said it was closing, we did not think there was a hope that it would open, because where are they going to get the priests from? More than half the priests in the diocese are near retiring age and there is only one in training.' Decreasing congregation numbers and the close proximity of some churches were also factors in the diocese's decision, communications officer Michael Fay told the Times last year. The site that was sold by the diocese included a church hall and bungalow which are not part of the application. Calstock Parish Council raised no objections to the scheme when they discussed it recently, but were concerned as to what was going to happen to the rest of the site as there was only one access. Cllr Ian Kirk said: 'This is quite a big site and the application for the dwelling and garage takes up less than half of it. 'From the plans, it looks like these other buildings will be cut off.' Other members said there would probably be another planning application next year for a second house on the site.
