The Bishop of Rochester, the Right Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, who chaired the working party that examined the theology of women bishops, said that the evidence from the Bible and the Church Fathers indicated clearly that women exercised leadership in the early Church.

"No one reading the history of the Church can fail to be impressed with the apostolate exercised by faithful women down the centuries," he said.

Insiders say that the official statement, which carries great weight with the Crown Nominations Commission, calls for the next archbishop to be theologically orthodox.

Observers believe that it could dent the prospects of several senior bishops who have been tipped for the post, such as the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev John Gladwin, and the Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev Tim Stephens.

Both clerics, however, expect to retain some standing in the Communion that will better enable them to help "official" Anglicans dismayed by revised moral teaching as well as women's ordination, which the TAC says still creates serious division, despite the Windsor Report's contrary claim.

He said the diocese of Michigan stopped sending the money. "The Lord will provide," he said as he handed over to the wife of the Bishop of the Diocese of Kinkizi, Jocelyn Ntegereize, about sh13m for the girls' first term.

Ntegereize said her diocese looks after about 360 girls with help from England and Nigeria. Relevant Links East Africa Religion Aid and Assistance United States, Canada and Africa Uganda