The poll of General Synod members found that only half of them would support the compromise deal proposed by the Church.After years of bitter wrangling over the issue, a report was published last week that advocated creating a new class of clergy to cater for traditionalists who refuse to accept women's ordination.
However, 41 per cent of respondents said they would not back such a solution, and a further eight per cent said they were undecided.
Figures on both sides of the debate argued that providing "complementary" or "flying" bishops for opponents of female bishops was unacceptable.
While traditionalists said that this did not represent a satisfactory safeguard, supporters of women bishops claimed it is too great a concession.
The overwhelming majority of the Synod - 70 per cent - believe that Anglo-Catholic priests will leave the Church if the current proposal becomes law.
Earlier this year more than 1,300 clergy, including 11 bishops, warned that they would consider defecting from the Church if they do not receive proper safeguards when women become bishops. Many respondents predicted that the exodus would be far smaller than has been threatened, but traditionalists rejected this.
Stephen Parkinson, director of Forward in Faith, the Anglo-Catholic group, said: "If we're going to have women bishops we need proper provision and what we have been offered is not acceptable. A large number of traditionalists will go if these proposals go through without being changed."
There is set to be a showdown at next month's General Synod when members will debate the draft legislation that aims to pave the way for women bishops.
Forward in Faith has called for a male-clergy enclave as the only workable arrangement, but this option has been rejected by the report.
The Very Rev Vivienne Faull, the Dean of Leicester, acknowledged that the Church faces more fierce debate before the historic reforms can be introduced.
"We're at the beginning of a long process and a deal won't be agreed for a while," she said.
"I hope that we can enable those who are wary of the legislation to realise that it's the best that we can produce and that we have to meet somewhere in the middle.
"I want to get to the point where women bishops are recognised in law and accepted in terms of their leadership."
Dean Faull, who is one of the most senior women in the Church, said it would be "a great loss" if traditionalists decide they are unable to stay in the Church.
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(Source: TTUK)