LONDON (RNS/ENInews) More than 900 Anglicans formally expressed a desire to convert to Catholicism at special services held at Westminster Cathedral — including the first Anglicans to join a new branch of the Catholic Church.

The annual ceremonies held last weekend (March 12-13), included 62 adults who will become Catholics as part of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster, who is the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, presided.

The “personal ordinariate” was set up by Pope Benedict XV1 as an extra-geographical body for Anglican converts who left over theological differences, including the consecration of women bishops.

“All will be `sent forth’ by their bishops to prepare to be received into the church in parishes across the Diocese of Westminster at Easter 2011,” Eddie Tulasiewicz, of the Diocese of Westminster Communications Office, told ENInews.