Proposed changes to Sunday trading laws will damage community life, the Archbishop of Southwark has said. In a joint statement with senior figures from five other denominations, Archbishop Peter Smith said the reforms would “disrupt the rhythms of community life that are so integral to the common good”. The leaders – from the Church of England, Church in Wales, Methodist Church, United Reform Church and Salvation Army – said that the reforms would harm family time and shared social activities. “In a world of increasing commodification the space for shared time and activities, central to human flourishing, is becoming increasingly rare,” the statement said. “Needlessly extending Sunday opening hours will only exacerbate this trend.” The Enterprise Bill, which last month passed its second reading in the Commons, would give elected mayors and local councils the power to decide whether to relax Sunday trading restrictions for large shops. At the moment, shops over 3,000 sq ft can only open for a maximum of six hours between 10am and 6pm. Last month the Bill passed a Commons vote by 300 to 62. It will receive its third and final reading on Wednesday. The current restrictions, the church leaders argue, “offer a balance between consumer needs and the wider health of local communities. They make space for shopping, while preserving the common leisure time essential for family life and shared social activities.“They also protect small stores from local near-monopolies, and preserve the right of shop workers to spend time with their families.” The letter says that, although the decision is up to local authorities, they “will inevitably be placed under pressure to extend opening hours, given the way distribution systems work and the pressures of competition”. They add that the economic benefits of the reforms are unproved, citing a recent study which suggests that the only effect will be a loss of market share for smaller shops. The plans have already faced criticism from church figures, MPs and trade unions. James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, has said that the new regulations “would actually damage small high street stores as trade would get diverted to large out of town supermarkets.” Business Secretary Sajid Javid has defended the plans, which he says will mean “the benefits of economic growth” are “felt in every corner of our country”, and will allow local authorities to decide what regulations are best for their area. The plans would allow employees to opt out of working Sundays or extra hours. But the Christian leaders say they are unconvinced that this would have any practical effect. Last August the Bishops’ conference of England and Wales replied to the Government consultation on the plans, saying it would be a “mistake” to deregulate Sunday trading. The bishops said that “community cohesion and family life” were helped by having a common day off, and would be harmed by the extension of trading hours. The government put the plans on hold last November after the Scottish National Party said it would vote against them.