St Nicholas Church in North BradleyCHURCH leaders fear 'impending doom' due to a desperate cash crisis attributed to falling congregation numbers.

Mounting debts in Southwick, Heywood and North Bradley have been blamed on changes in funding and communities no longer being willing to support their churches.

Now the Parochial Church Council (PCC) is calling a crisis meeting with parishioners to work out a rescue plan.

If annual shortfalls totalling tens thousands of pounds are not found buildings could be closed and debts defaulted.

Churches nationwide are suffering but church leaders for 650-year-old St Nicholas Church in North Bradley, St Thomas' Church in Southwick and Heywood Church have decided they must act quickly.

The Rev Julian Parker, chairman of the PCC, is appealing for support at a meeting on Sunday.

He said: "Rural churches are struggling across the country but our financial committee has worked out we are falling short of our annual budget, this puts us in a serious position.

"Changes to funding means last years' debts are no longer paid off by richer churches or the diocese and I sense impending doom.

"We recognise the community does not support the church anymore, neither does it support cricket teams or ladies' or old peoples' groups who are also struggling to survive.

"Most people use the church at least once in their life for weddings, funerals or baptisms but don't return for weekly services or special events we have held,"

This year St Nicholas Church has held Harry Potter, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and The Weakest Link services to attract the public back.

The church has also put on concerts and a pop idol competition for parishioners.

A projected budget shows a deficit of up to £67,800 this year, rising to an annual shortfall of £86,300 in three years time.

Mr Parker said: "We need to get a group together who will be able to support us because we have short term problems but we don't envisage any closures yet."

The three churches currently meet day-to-day running costs but the PCC must pay for priests' salaries, pensions and housing, which stands at £43,000 every year.

Options available to the PCC are not to pay the voluntary diocesan share to the Bishop of Salisbury or close down buildings.

Chris Love, acting diocesan secretary for the Salisbury Diocese, said: "We commend any parish which exercises any forward planning and consultation."

Church leaders will be holding a meeting with villagers at St Nicholas Church in North Bradley on Sunday, at 6.30pm, to discuss the cash crisis.