Radical plans to create a traditionalist Church-within-a-Church for opponents of women bishops are being drawn up by legal experts after the Archbishop of Canterbury expressed sympathy for the idea.
Forward in Faith, the traditionalist umbrella group, is to present Dr Rowan Williams with a blueprint for legislation to allow the Church of England to establish a so-called "third province" when women become bishops.
The idea of formally splitting the Church into two parts, one containing male and female clergy and the other just men, has been consistently rejected as too extreme by Church leaders.
But Dr Williams, a supporter of female ordination, has put it firmly back on the agenda by saying he wants the idea taken seriously in the run-up to the consecration of the first women, expected within the next 10 years.
He has told friends that considering such a scheme now may prevent a repeat of divisions following the ordination of women priests 10 years ago.
Forward in Faith's lawyers are finalising a draft measure which could be debated by the General Synod when it votes on women bishops.
Under its proposals, the 400 or so parishes which already refuse to recognise women priests, and who are presently ministered to by the so-called "flying" bishops, could opt to join the all-male enclave.
The new structure, although lacking geographical boundaries, would exist in parallel to the provinces of Canterbury and York, and would have its own hierarchy and training colleges.
According to the Rev Geoffrey Kirk, the general secretary of Forward in Faith, it would be larger than either of the independent Anglican provinces in Scotland or Wales or the biggest Church of England diocese.
But he recognised that the idea would meet fierce resistance from many bishops, unhappy that traditionalist parishes in their dioceses do not come under their control.
Most supporters of women priests will also reject the proposals and argue that clergy who cannot accept women bishops should leave the Church. They are already angry with the 1995 Act of Synod, which created the Opponents of women 'will split Church' system of "flying" bishops.
There are also questions over whether any new organisation could keep a proportion of Church property and income and whether it would have any relationship with the monarch. Fr Kirk said these problems could be overcome.
Dr Williams faced fierce criticism after he backed proposals to detain asylum seekers while their applications were processed, particularly when there was a danger of terrorists entering.
Leigh Daynes, of Refugee Action, a charity and support group, said: "There is no justification for it and I would be surprised if it was a view shared by many bishops."
Roger Bingham, of the human rights group Liberty, said: "This is not a suggestion that's going to tackle any of the problems of asylum, terrorism or racism."