As an Anglican who enjoys The Tablet, I want to challenge your leader (“England can break new ground”, 15 November) about why the Church of England now ordains many more new priests than the Catholic Church. You attribute this to celibacy on the Catholic side and the ordination of women in the Anglican Church. I suggest a third factor; the growth of non-stipendiary/self-supporting ministry in the Anglican Church. Almost half of all new Anglican priests are in this category (48 per cent in 2012). This means that financial concern about the ability to pay more new clergy does not become a limiting factor. But it also opens priestly ministry to men (and women) who feel called to continue in their secular employment, while also being available to serve in a parish. When I was orda