I write as a former Anglican priest who is married. First, to reply to Nicola Lawrence (Letters, 18 July), the Church has never had women priests. They would be a total innovation, whereas there are and have been married priests.I have found that many parishioners have welcomed (and been relieved) to have someone with a family who they can talk with from the inside, as it were. Yet I cannot deny that many celibate priests are also excellent with families. When we hear about ordaining viri probati cutting against the “ancient tradition” of celibacy let us seek balance, for this ancient tradition is not the only way of doing things and was not in apostolic times. It need not be the only way now, but there is a valuable charism of celibacy that must be preserved alongside a marri