TWO CHURCHES in Holland-on-Sea and Jaywick are to close in September.

The Catholic Church says the closures stem from the ‘excessive’ workload of new Canon Peter Connor, who was appointed to his role following the sudden death of father Jim McCormack last year.

However, the move has been attacked by parishioners including Patrick MacGuire who say it is all about saving money, and parishioners will find it hard to pray at other churches.

A statement from the Diocese of Brentwood said Canon Peter is “not a young man” and his “workload in this busy parish is unsustainable for one priest.”

“He has been saying four Masses each weekend alongside his work in the parish, school, hospital, hospice- and any of the 63 care homes in town where Catholics have need of him. Unfortunately, the Diocese has no spare priests to assist him,” it said.

Thus, Masses will cease on Sunday September 11 in Holland-on-Sea and Jaywick, with parishioners being urged to attend the church of Our Lady of Light and St Osyth.

As part of the move, Mass times have been changed, with an extra 8.30am Mass also introduced.

“I hope that all parishioners will understand the need for this change and support their priest and parish in whatever way they can,” said Bishop Alan Williams, who agreed to the shake-up sought by Canon Peter.

Canon Peter has urged parishioners at Holland and Jaywick to attend Our Lady of Light adding parishioners who have been worshipping at Jaywick, have produced a form handed out at Mass to see who can give lifts to Our Lady of the Light.

No plans have yet been made for the sale or otherwise of the buildings at Jaywick and Holland-on-Sea. No employees of the parish will be affected by the changes, the statement added.

However, Clacton parishioner Pat MacGuire said he believes the changes are primarily about money and the church could rent out one of its three houses at Our Lady of the Light to earn funds to keep the two churches open. He also said there are ‘rumours’ the Diocese intends to sell the Holland Church to a “non-Christian Church.”

Another parishioner, who declined to be identified, said since the arrival of Canon Peter there has been “quite a lot of upheaval” with the departure of “quite a few people.”

“We don’t want the two churches closing. People can’t get to Our Lady of the Light,” he added.

“There’s a lot of ill-feeling.”