Archdiocese to close two more churches

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia on Sunday announced the closure of two suburban churches, saying maintenance costs are too steep for their parent parishes.

The archdiocese said in a statement that Immaculate Conception B.V.M. Church in Levittown will no longer serve as a worship site for Queen of the Universe Parish - which is $962,938 in debt - and will close.

It also says St. Gertrude Church in West Conshohocken will shut down and no longer serve as a worship site for Conshohocken's St. Matthew Parish.

The cost of maintaining the two churches was more than $215,000, the archdiocese said.

Parishioners were told of the closures during Mass over the weekend.

Both churches merged with their current parishes in 2014, and their pastors sought the closures after reviewing finances, the Archdiocese said.

- Michael Boren