A BARRY church could be closed by as soon as June because of a lack of worshippers and a crumbling building.

The future of the autonomous St Michael's Church in Tennyson Road has been under threat for many years.

But it has become clear that with St Helen's being so close, the two have to be amalgamated.

Father Paul Miller of St Michael's is resigned to the fact.

He said: "It has become clear that St Michael's can no longer remain open, for financial reasons.

"While I understand the sadness that many parishioners will feel, there is very little that can be done to prevent it. I will, of course, be there to answer as many questions as I can, but the Church is in a state of flux at the moment."

Archbishop Peter sent a pastoral message to worshippers in the parishes of St Michael's and St Helen's at the end of February.

In it, he explains a survey carried out on St Michael's and St Vincent's in Rhoose, together with the parish hall and the Presbytery, calculated the cost of repair at around £250,000.

Over the years, there has been a decline of Mass-going attendance, presently only about 144 people go on Sundays between St Michael's and St Vincent's.

This would make the task of raising all the funds needed almost impossible, even over many years.

St Helen's is approximately one mile from the Tennyson Road church, and the Catechesis for the Sacraments takes place there.

With the Infants school next door and the junior school less than half-a-mile away, St Helen's looks to be the natural focus for the Catholic community in Barry.

As a result, the proposed amalgamation could take place around the date of Pentecost, which this year falls on June 8.