WA Catholic news off The Record

Australia's oldest weekly newspaper is closing down.

The Record, Western Australia's Catholic newspaper, which was established in 1874, will publish its final edition on July 23.

Perth Archbishop Timothy Costello said the decision to close the paper was reached after a five-month review with stakeholders following a protracted decline in subscriptions.

"Change is sometimes difficult and there will be many people who will be sorry to see The Record in this present form no longer appear each week in our churches," Archbishop Costello said on Monday.

"If our goal is to use the media to share the message of Jesus, we must try new methods and set out in new directions."

The Record will be replaced by a monthly magazine as well as a weekly electronic newsletter that will be emailed to parishes.

The magazine and the newsletter will be edited by the Archdiocese's newly-established communications and media team led by James Parker.

Mr Parker said contracted staff would keep their jobs and temporary staff had been offered further opportunities.