Lifting previously-enforced age limits will enable people to train to become ordained ministers in their late fifties and early sixties.
Rev Tim Dakin, bishop of Winchester, told the Telegraph: “60 is the new 40.
“We’re living longer, we’ve got a lot of energy – I look at some of my episcopal colleagues and they’re still going like a bomb. They’re really hard-working, energetic people.”
The new programme being offered in his diocese enables trainers to do their training part-time locally, instead of traveling to a college to train full-time.
As a result, the number of people recommended for training in the diocese has risen from 14 two years ago to 21 this year, the bishop claimed.
The numbers have risen from 476 in 2016 to 580 this year nationally.
New guidelines mean dioceses can discuss with candidates what form of training they should do.
Figures show the number of people under the age of 32 applying to become Anglican priests has risen by almost a third over the past two years.
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