Criticism of Leeds parish merger

An independent report into the reorganisation of parishes in the Diocese of Leeds has found there was a lack of consultation, insufficient lay involvement and that the plan should have been presented more positively to those affected.

The then-Bishop of Leeds, Arthur Roche, announced the diocese would merge more than 20 parishes and close two churches in 2010, in order to cope with declining congregations and a falling number of priests.

In a review of the programme, "Providing Priests for the People", the Kinharvie Institute, a consultancy group, has found that the diocese presented only "negative reasons" for change and gave no "shared and inspiring vision" pointing towards the "promised land" of what it wanted to achieve.