London, England - The number of men and women recommended to train for ordination rose to a six-year high last year, the Church of England announced last week.
The 564 candidates recommended for training last year compared with 505 the previous year.
The church said last year's total, which included 284 men and 280 women, had been exceeded only twice in the previous two decades, in 1986 and 1998.
The church began ordaining women in 1994, but the number of women selected for training has not yet exceeded the number of men in any year.
Most of those chosen for training do go on to ordination, the church said.
Because of the large number of older clergy, the church still is not ordaining enough candidates to replace all those retiring each year.
"Attracting young people to ordained ministry is key for the church's present and future mission and ministry," said Bishop John Gladwin of Chelmsford, who chairs the ministry division. "What young people may sometimes lack in terms of experience they more than make up for in terms of energy and potential."