Parishioners have been forced to go to the Vatican in an attempt to save their church.

Conwy’s St Michael’s and All Angels church was closed on February 11 because of the declining number of priests.

This decision has left parishioners outraged and led to an appeal being submitted to the Wrexham Diocese, who made the decision in 2016 as part of its restructuring plan.

Bishop Peter Brignall and the diocese had 30 days to reply to the appeal but parishioners had heard nothing.

John Lewis said while the first appeal had fallen on deaf ears they had already begun on their second.

An appeal has now been sent to the Congregation of the Clergy in the Vatican to have the decision to close St Michael’s overturned.

He said: “It could take up to three months to be heard because they have appeals from all over the world to consider. Ours are just one of many but in the meantime we are preparing for the second stage of appeal.”

If the Congregation of the Clergy fail to overturn the decision Mr Lewis and the parishioners will take their case to the Apostolic Signatura which is the high court equivalent in this scenario.

If the appeal process does get to the Apostolic Signatura the Conwy parishioners will need to be represented by a canon lawyer. Mr Lewis has therefore begun a fundraising campaign to raise enough to pay for a lawyer should it come to it.

Parishioners have already held a coffee morning which raised more than £750 and Mr Lewis said to date more than £1000 has been donated.

He said: “We are all very disappointed that the church is closed her in Conwy. But now we have to be prepared and fight for our church.”

Mr Lewis added the next step will be getting all the documents ready, should a visit to the Apostolic Signatura be required and he was looking to hold talks with canon lawyers.