Three former Church of England bishops have been ordained as Roman Catholic priests.
The bishops resigned their Anglican posts over the issue of women bishops.
The three were ordained at Westminster Cathedral this morning by the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, Archbishop Vincent Nichols.
Until a few weeks ago the three men were serving bishops in the Church of England.
Today they became the first three priests to join a special section within the Catholic church called an ordinariate.
It has been established for Anglicans disaffected by issues such as the Church of England's plans to consecrate women as bishops.
Those who join can retain some of their Anglican traditions and celibacy is not required of clergy who are already married.
It is estimated that around 50 Anglican clergymen and several hundred Anglican lay people from their congregations will join the Catholic Church in the coming months.
The most Reverand Nichols told them 'this morning the establishment of the first Personal Ordinariate under the provision of the Apostolic Constitution 'Anglicanorum Coetibus' has been announced in our hearing.'
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has in the past expressed concern the new Ordinariate could leave some parishes without priests, as disaffected Anglicans switch to Rome.
