But its success as a marketing technique has led other Anglicans to copy it.
The internet makes it easy for multinational pressure-groups to get organised, and Anglicans are no exception.
But the Anglicans and other old Protestant churches are losing ground to the Pentecostalists.
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Conservative evangelical Anglicans say they will fight the move in the Church's ruling general synod.
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Any chance of real reconciliation with Anglicans is highly unlikely because of the difference over women priests.
The new law must recognise both supporters and opponents of women bishops were "loyal Anglicans", they said.
The Vatican says its invitation came in response to pleas from Anglicans unhappy about the creation of women bishops.
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Under the terms of the Pope's proposed Apostolic Constitution, groupings of Anglicans would be able to join "personal ordinariates".
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British Anglicans first began joining the Ordinariate, as it is known, in 2011.
Anglicans wondered whether their church was still on the side of the angels.
Even so, Dr Williams was accused of a failure to lead, that is a failure to command, cajole and coerce Anglicans.
He does not foresee legal battles over church buildings if groups of Anglicans do decide to convert to Rome in large numbers.
Steenson heads a body created under Benedict's papacy, called an "ordinariate, " which has brought thousands of estranged Anglicans into the Catholic fold.
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He streamlined the process for traditional Anglicans who, objecting to ordaining women and gays in their own church, wanted to become Catholic.
The figures also suggested a continuing large presence of "nominal" Anglicans - those who believe in God but only go to church occasionally.
But many Anglicans see the Archbishop of Canterbury's greatest task as articulating the Christian message, speaking up for the poor and the marginalized.
As one who has specialised in dispute resolution, often in dangerous circumstances overseas, he believes in "diversity without enmity" as a model for Anglicans.
Iraq also has communities of Syrian Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Copts, Armenian Orthodox, Armenian Catholics, Greek Orthodox and Greek Catholics, as well as Anglicans and Evangelicals.
If the statistics are correct, though, the Anglicans are not alone.
Pope Francis did say the Ordinariate for ex-Anglicans was unnecessary - but that does not mean it will be Papal policy, an Anglican bishop has said.
The issue of gay rights has already riven the Anglican community in the United States and is anathema to most African Anglicans, the church's largest population.
Bishop Julian Dobbs of the traditionalist Convocation of Anglicans in North America, said he was "excited" by Justin Welby's experience and engagement with the church in Nigeria.
Some Anglicans in the island have petitioned the Archbishop of Canterbury to step in over concerns the incident could lead to a widening split in the church.
Pope Francis also told him that "the world needs Anglicans".
And 20 years before that, office-holders had to be Anglicans.
For two weeks Anglicans have watched a debate that should have been about banks and traders, but became one about whether their own Church is standing up for Christian values.
While Catholics were busy burning witches and Lutherans and other protestant groups were busy taking all the fun and mysterious things out of Christianity, Anglicans were busy walking the tightrope between.
Presbyterians were apt to be Patriots, Anglicans often Tories.
The church will be dedicated during Lent to the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, a group set up by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011 for Anglicans who defect to Roman Catholicism.
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It has emerged that Pope Francis has previously spoken out against a scheme instituted by the previous Pope Benedict which allowed disaffected Anglicans to join the Catholic Church, while still retaining elements of Anglicanism.
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