Bishops have been surprised by the scale of the exodus, which is partly driven by the ordination of women in the Church of England.
Several hundred priests and more than a dozen bishops have abandoned Anglicanism to convert to Catholicism over the past three decades in a “surge” partly driven by the move to ordain women in the Church of England, a study has found.
The figures are “much larger than most people would imagine”, analysts said, finding that almost a third of all Catholic priests ordained in England and Wales since 1992 have been converts from Anglican churches.
Researchers said the figures had even come as a surprise to Roman Catholic bishops, who had not realised the extent of conversions.
Since 1992, the year when the General Synod of the Church of England voted to permit women to join the priesthood, around 700 Anglican priests and members of Anglican religious orders from England, Wales and Scotland have become Catholics.
There have also been 16 former Anglican bishops who have made the switch, often after retirement.
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