A CONSULTATION over the future of rural churches in North East Wales has been launched in a bid to make them more “relevant” to modern life.

Religious leaders in the Church in Wales Diocese of St Asaph, which covers places of worship in the Vale of Clwyd, Conwy, Gwynedd and Powys, are consulting with nearby residents on how they can reconnect with communities, groups, schools and organisations.

It comes amid concerns over an increasing difficulty to attract new members and the rising age of church communities.

The consultation is being led by the Archdeacon of Montgomery, the Venerable Dr Barry Wilson, who said that while there are churches that are still “the hub of their local community” there is room for the diocese’s rural churches to be more “open, welcoming, inclusive and relevant places”.

“In recent years there have been concerns,” he said. “Congregations worry about their rising age profiles, the difficulty in attracting new members, especially younger families, the cost of keeping ancient buildings in good repair and funding the provision of clergy.

“As part of the consultation, we’ll be looking to speak to as many people as possible in rural communities to understand how the church can better engage with people and communities, and share the Christian faith more widely, especially with young children and families, the farming community and those living isolated lives.”

According to the last census, about 41 per cent of the population in the diocese live in a rural community.

Rural churches vary from serving populations of thousands to small hamlets with fewer than 250 people.

A few have relatively large congregations, but most have Sunday congregations of between 10 to 20 people.

The diocese has set up a Rural Strategy Working Group to oversee and shape the consultation, which includes clergy and lay people.

The Bishop of St Asaph, the Right Reverend Gregory Cameron, said churches still have an important role to play in rural communities where there are no other support services nearby.

“Over half of our churches are in rural communities where the village church is sometimes the only organisation offering community support and services to the inhabitants,” he said.

“St Asaph Diocese is committed to working hard to ensure that the presence and ministries of these churches and the communities they serve thrive in the future.”