A VICAR has warned the Church could be in danger of collapse if it does not move with the times.

The Rev Ed Saville of St Luke's Church, Brierfield, plans to take action by seeking the opinion of parishioners.

He hopes to modernise the church in a bid to meet the changing needs of worshippers living modern-day lives.

In this month's edition of the St Luke's Church Messenger he writes: "We are in danger, if we are not careful, of seeing the church wither on the vine, not just in Brierfield, but in the country as a whole."

He said the Blackburn Diocese was in a privileged position because the decline had not been as rapid as in other areas.

He added: "In some areas the decline has already happened rapidly, with numbers as few as 20 regular attenders on a Sunday morning."

Mr Saville, who has been at the Brierfield church for nine years, said that despite dwindling numbers, existing parishioners were positive about the church's future.

Speaking about his article in the messenger, he added: "In 1998 we had on average 97 or 98 people per service, now we are running somewhere in the region on 70 to 80. This is happening right the way across the parishes which has prompted us to look at different ways of getting in touch with the younger generation.

"We have a mid-week mother and toddler group. A lot of these people don't go to church but they see themselves as going on this day, so if that's how we can provide it, that's what we can do."