A new study by St Mary’s University, London, has revealed that hundreds of Anglican clergy have converted to the Catholic Church over the past three decades, marking one of the most significant shifts in modern British religious life.
According to the report, around 700 former Anglican clergy — including members of the Scottish Episcopal Church — have entered the Catholic Church between 1992 and 2024. Remarkably, one-third of all Catholic priests ordained in that period in the UK were once Anglican vicars.
The study, conducted by the university’s Benedict XVI Centre for Religion and Society, also identified 16 former Anglican bishops and two Continuing Anglican bishops among those received into full communion with the Catholic Church.
Women’s Ordination Triggered the First Wave
Co-author Professor Stephen Bullivant said there was “unequivocally a surge” in conversions following the Church of England’s historic 1992 General Synod vote permitting the ordination of women priests — a decision passed by a margin of just two votes.
Many clergy who later became Catholic told researchers that the vote prompted deep reflection about the direction of the Anglican Church. For some, Prof Bullivant noted, conversion was “a long-standing matter of conscience.”
Benedict XVI’s Visit Inspired a New Generation
The study also points to Pope Benedict XVI’s 2010 state visit to the UK, during which he beatified Cardinal John Henry Newman, as a second major catalyst for conversions. Newman — himself a former Anglican priest — is widely admired across Christian traditions.
“Cardinal Newman is a hero among Anglicans and Catholics,” Prof Bullivant said. “His witness continues to influence many on their journey toward the Catholic Church.”
Changing Anglican Leadership Landscape
The Anglican Church has continued to evolve since the debate over women priests. The first female vicars were ordained in 1994, and in October 2025, the Church of England appointed its first female Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, following the resignation of Justin Welby.
Credit: the telegraph
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