All of a sudden they get it, and that inquisitive look turns into curiosity. I then go on by telling them to imagine a combination between the old Latin mass, and the new vernacular mass. 'Mash them together, to get the best of both worlds, and put the whole thing into sacral English', I say. Sometimes they'll ask what sacral English is. I'll simply tell them it's an older form of high English that is reserved specifically for God, and they use it all the time.

Professor Woodhead told The Tablet that the Church of England clergy represented in these figures began to leave their original Church from 1994, when the first women were ordained priests. Those who left between 1994 and 2004 were provided with financial compensation amounting to 100 per cent of their stipend in year one, three-quarters in year two and two-thirds in year three. The payments amounted to £27.4 million over a decade.

Humble Access - as it is colloquially known - was retained in the Anglican-use Mass, which was established by a 1980 Pastoral Provision for former Episcopalians and Anglicans by Blessed Pope John Paul II. Anglicanorum Coetibus, Benedict XVI's November 2009 apostolic constitution, provided for personal ordinariates to accommodate groups of Anglicans coming into full communion with the Catholic Church.

Becoming part of the Catholic community was the highlight of the ceremony for Vicki Bohn, 69, a member of St. Barnabas for 12 years with her husband, Mel, 70.

St. Barnabas left the Episcopal Church in 2007 due to what Father Scheiblhofer called the church's deviations from Holy Scripture and members' desire for a true voice of authority.