St Dunstan's Church in Moston, Manchester, changed its Saturday service from 7pm to 5pm.
Parish priest Father Martin Saunders grew up in Moston but left to serve elsewhere. After 13 years he returned to become the pastor of St Dunstans and was shocked by the increase in crime in the area and by the way the high street was making money.
Fr Saunders told The Telegraph: "I grew up on the Miners Estate but now I've come back I've noticed the deterioration of the area and in particular the levels of crime and disorder.
"Even when I was talking to a police officer I was told 'you don't really want to be out here late at night'.
"The quality of the shops on Moston Lane has also gone down. We must have two dozen hairdressers within 200 yards and some of the problems from certain shops at night have been well-documented."
Locals have started the Moston Lane Residents' Association, similar to the national Neighbourhood Watch scheme, to draw attention to late-night drinking problems and illegal rubbish dumping.
One resident claims drug dealing and prostitution also happens on the high street.
Police launched a crackdown on late-night drinking in Moston after a man was left blinded in one eye in an attack.
They say crime has not increased in the area.