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| Church 'in need of women priests' | Church 'in need of women priests' |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| The Church of England would struggle in the future without women priests, researchers claim. | The Church of England would struggle in the future without women priests, researchers claim. |
| English Church Census figures show that half of priests ordained in recent years were women. There were 1,262 serving women priests in 2002. | English Church Census figures show that half of priests ordained in recent years were women. There were 1,262 serving women priests in 2002. |
| University of Manchester researchers say that, without women priests, pulpits would become "depopulated". | University of Manchester researchers say that, without women priests, pulpits would become "depopulated". |
| The findings follow the Archbishop of Canterbury's suggestion that they had failed to transform the church. | The findings follow the Archbishop of Canterbury's suggestion that they had failed to transform the church. |
| Rowan Williams, in an interview with the Catholic Herald newspaper earlier this month, said he did not think women priests - first ordained in 1994 - had "transformed or renewed the Church in spectacular ways" nor had they "corrupted or ruined it". | Rowan Williams, in an interview with the Catholic Herald newspaper earlier this month, said he did not think women priests - first ordained in 1994 - had "transformed or renewed the Church in spectacular ways" nor had they "corrupted or ruined it". |
| Women are not yet allowed to become bishops and they are far more likely to be 'second class' clergy David VoasUniversity of Manchester | Women are not yet allowed to become bishops and they are far more likely to be 'second class' clergy David VoasUniversity of Manchester |
| The University of Manchester's David Voas said: "Close to a quarter of male parish priests are 60 or older and their average age is 54. | |
| "Without women, the pulpits would become as depopulated as the pews in the years to come." | "Without women, the pulpits would become as depopulated as the pews in the years to come." |
| It was not surprising women clergy seemed not to have made an impact because the Church was "far from being an equal opportunity employer", he added. | It was not surprising women clergy seemed not to have made an impact because the Church was "far from being an equal opportunity employer", he added. |
| "Women are not yet allowed to become bishops and they are far more likely to be 'second class' clergy. | "Women are not yet allowed to become bishops and they are far more likely to be 'second class' clergy. |
| "Most of the men who became priests in 2005 went into paid 'stipendiary' ministry, while most of the women are in voluntary posts." | "Most of the men who became priests in 2005 went into paid 'stipendiary' ministry, while most of the women are in voluntary posts." |
| Archbishop's apology | |
| Other denominations were also more likely to favour male ministers over their female counterparts, he said. | Other denominations were also more likely to favour male ministers over their female counterparts, he said. |
| The census found there were no women at all in churches which had congregations of 330 or more on a typical Sunday. | The census found there were no women at all in churches which had congregations of 330 or more on a typical Sunday. |
| "Well over half of women ministers in all denominations serve in rural areas with very few found in the flagship city centre churches," Mr Voas said. | "Well over half of women ministers in all denominations serve in rural areas with very few found in the flagship city centre churches," Mr Voas said. |
| "The larger the church, the more likely it is that a man will be put in charge." | "The larger the church, the more likely it is that a man will be put in charge." |
| Dr Williams has apologised for how he phrased his recent comments about women priests. | |
| The archbishop of Canterbury told BBC Radio 4's Sunday programme, that he had not expressed himself very clearly. |
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