WORSHIPPERS in Gunnislake are upset over plans to close the local Catholic church because of a shortage of priests. From Easter, Catholics who attend St Joseph's Church in Gunnislake will have to travel to Callington or Tavistock for services. Members of the congregation were told the news by the Bishop of Plymouth at a recent service. Douglas Meeten has been a regular churchgoer at St Joseph's for 18 years and he said the news came as a shock. 'The history of the Catholic church in Gunnislake goes back 80 years and everyone is very upset,' he said. 'Since October the church population has decreased because the times of the services have changed from morning to evening which some people do not like, particularly in the winter. 'The congregation is round about thirty now but it used to be fifty or sixty. 'The Callington church has a very small car park, whereas we have a large car park so I cannot see how we can all get in there with our cars.' Members of the congregation have signed a petition to try and save the church hall on the site which is used for bowls, parish suppers and children's instruction in order that it can be converted for services. Mr Meeten said the church hall was only built four years ago but he suspected the diocese would sell the whole site off in time. There is currently a review being undertaken of all church buildings in the Plymouth diocese. Jo Hall, who was baptised at the church, said she was 'heartbroken' by the decision but there were only nine priests in Cornwall and she understood the Bishop was in a very difficult position. 'I am very, very sad about it — I used to go to daily mass and have been instructing the children for forty years,' she said. 'What is so sad is that a band of people called the St Joseph's workers spent so much time and effort raising funds. We were very fortunate to to be left some money by a Tavistock lady for the new church which was built thirty years ago.' The last mass will be celebrated on Easter Day on April 8. Communications officer for the Plymouth diocese Michael Fay said the decision was taken because of the shortage of priests and several churches very close together in the area. 'For some time now the Bishop has been trying to get people together into communities of a reasonable size rather than have them fragmented,' he said. 'There is also the issue of fewer numbers of congregation.' Mr Fay said he hoped elderly worshippers and others who had difficulties getting to Tavistock or Callington churches would be assisted by other members of the parish.