Communion guidelines

This page sets out for ministers of Holy Communion the policies they may need to refer to in special cases. They concern who may receive Communion, the commissioning of lay assistants, gaining permission to reserve the Sacrament and to conduct a service of Communion by extension.

Who may receive communion

Holy Communion before Confirmation: admission of baptised persons

1. Since ‘communion before confirmation’ is a departure from our inherited norm it requires special permission. The agreement of the Area Bishop is required before a parish introduces the practice of admitting baptized persons to communion before confirmation.
2. An application to the Area Bishop for an approved Parish Policy for the ‘Admission of baptized persons to Holy Communion before confirmation’ (download the form from the resources block at the bottom of this page) must include the following elements:
   a. evidence that both the incumbent and the Parochial Church Council support the application.
   b. evidence that the parish policy is clear and understood within the parish.
   c. details of the Christian nurture and education programme for the parish for both children and adults.
   d. evidence that the importance of Confirmation is emphasized within the programme of nurture.
   e. that Baptism must always precede admission to Holy Communion.
   f. that there is a proper discussion between the parish priest, the parents and other catechists about the right time for admission of a child to Holy Communion, and that they share in a continuing education of the child in the significance of Holy Communion. Persons (including children) with learning difficulties should not be barred, but rather given an opportunity to experience the sacramental signs of God’s love.
   g. before a child is first brought to Holy Communion the significance of the occasion should be explained to him/her and proper preparation given for the reception of the sacrament.
   h. ‘First Communion’ should be marked in some way appropriate to the life of the parish. It is often helpful for the Bishop to admit children to communion at a service of confirmation, where the two practices can be linked.
   i. liturgical resources for the admission of children to Holy Communion are available from the Area Bishop’s office.
   j. a register of every person admitted to Holy Communion before Confirmation should be kept, and each person so admitted should be given a certificate by the Area Bishop.
   k. the priest must consult with the Area Bishop about how much of the liturgy communicant children should attend. The Ministry of the Word may be in separate groups (e.g. Sunday School), but the Ministry of the Sacrament should be for the whole church together.
3. The Christian nurture and education programme of the parish, which will form part of the application to the Area Bishop, must be monitored by someone in the Episcopal Area, possibly the Area Director of Ministry. Resources for parishes to run such programmes are kept by the Diocesan Children’s Adviser at London Diocesan House.
4. It is impossible to force the policy of one parish on to another, and therefore there may be difficulties when families move from one parish to another. However, unconfirmed communicant people who move to another parish will be commended to their new incumbent as communicant members of the church.
5. Since the bishop is the principal minister of initiation, it is important for the bishop regularly to be the minister of Holy Baptism, and particularly at services where candidates will be both baptized and confirmed.

Giving permission to lay assistants to administer communion

The legal framework is contained in the Administration of Holy Communion Regulations 2015. Area Bishops will give permission to lay people to assist in the administration of Holy Communion under the conditions listed:

• Proposed Lay Assistants should be communicants in good standing, nominated by the Incumbent and approved by the PCC.
• It is appropriate for children and young people to be included in the list of Lay Assistants. This may include children who have been admitted to Holy Communion in accordance with the Admission of Baptized Children to Holy Communion Regulations 2006.
• The Parish priest should give Lay Assistants careful instruction as to how the distribution should be made, the words used and particular customs of the congregation.
• Lay Assistants should be encouraged to prepare themselves for this ministry by careful preparation and prayer.
• The people or person should be given the permission publicly by the Bishop or parish priest at the main Eucharist on a Sunday or Festival.
• Lay Assistants need not be robed: this should depend on local custom.. It is acceptable for Lay Assistants to come up from the congregation at the time of Holy Communion.
• Permission applies to the distribution of either or both the consecrated Bread or Wine, as the celebrant shall decide.
• Permission will normally be for a period of three years, at which time the permission will be reviewed by the incumbent and PCC with a recommendation to the Bishop.
• Permissions are also issued for the distribution of communion in Church Schools (with the consent of the Head Teacher) and other institutions.
• The Bishop’s office keeps a record of all permissions that have been issued.
• Permission is for the Lay Assistant’s parish and no other.

Reservation of the Sacrament and Communion by Extension

Reservation of the Blessed Sacrament

The written permission of the Area Bishop is required to reserve the Sacrament. Applications to the Bishop should be accompanied by

(a) a Resolution of the PCC approving the application,

(b) a statement giving reasons for the application, including the number of communions at home and/or in hospital during the past twelve months.

The Bishop must also give written approval for the construction of the safe and its proposed position in church, for which a faculty is also required. The application for a faculty should be made in the usual way. The Bishop’s letter of approval is sent to the Chancellor with the faculty application.

The Sacrament should be reserved in a ciborium or other suitable vessel, and should be changed frequently. The Parish Priest is responsible for the security of the Sacrament, and should have the key to the place of reservation in his or her safekeeping. It is customary to mark the place of reservation with a white light.

Before any expected vacancy the Parish Priest should consult the Area Bishop, who will make the necessary arrangements for the care of the Sacrament.

Public Worship with Communion by Extension

If a priest is unavailable to conduct a service of Holy Communion, it is possible for an authorised person to conduct a service, with appropriate permission.
‘Public Worship with Communion by Extension’ contains the rite to be used and Guidelines for its use by the House of Bishops.

1. Explicit permission must be obtained from the Bishop for the use of this rite. This permission will relate to specific pastoral circumstances (see the House of Bishops Guidelines pages 32-33).
2. In parishes or churches in which Public Worship with Communion by Extension is authorised a celebration of Holy Communion must take place regularly in each church. Public Worship with Communion by Extension should normally take place on Sundays and Holy Days and only exceptionally on other occasions.
3. The service must be conducted by a person specifically authorised by the Bishop. This may be a deacon, Reader, Lay Worker, or other lay person who has received appropriate training. Those who have the Bishop’s permission to assist in administering Holy Communion may assist in administering Holy Communion.
4. A deacon, Reader or Lay Worker must wear appropriate vesture.
5. The consecrated elements of Holy Communion must be treated in a seemly and dignified manner and the rubrics in the rite provided must be observed.
6. Proper provision must be made for the consecrated bread and wine to be brought from the celebration of Holy Communion in a seemly and dignified manner. They should be placed on the Holy Table and covered with a clean white cloth.
7. Proper care should be taken to ensure, as far as possible, that the consecrated elements are sufficient for the number of communicants. If the bread and wine prove insufficient for the number of communicants there can be no supplementary consecration in the course of this service.
8. Any remaining consecrated elements should be consumed by the officiant and assistants in a seemly and dignified manner.

Regularity of church services

This is covered by Canon B14 and B14A as follows:

B 14 Of Holy Communion in parish churches

1. The Holy Communion shall be celebrated in at least one church in each benefice or, where benefices are held in plurality, in at least one church in at least one of those benefices at least on all Sundays and principal Feast Days, and on Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday. It shall be celebrated distinctly, reverently, and in an audible voice.

1A. In making a decision as to how to give effect to paragraph 1, the person or persons doing so shall ensure that no church ceases altogether to be used for public worship.

2. The celebration of the Holy Communion as required by this Canon may only be dispensed with in accordance with the provisions of Canon B 14A.

B 14A Of services in churches and other places of worship

1. The reading of Morning and Evening Prayer as required by Canon B 11 or the celebration of the Holy Communion as required by Canon B 14 may be dispensed with as follows:

(a)  on an occasional basis, as authorized by the minister who has the cure of souls and the parochial church council of each parish in the benefice acting jointly;

(b)  on a regular basis, as authorized by the bishop on the request of the minister who has the cure of souls and the parochial church council of each parish in the benefice acting jointly.

In giving an authorization under this paragraph, the person or persons doing so must be satisfied that there is good reason for doing so and shall –

(ii)     ensure that no church ceases altogether to be used for public worship.

4. The bishop of a diocese may, subject to Canons B 11 and B 14 and the preceding paragraphs of this Canon, direct what services shall be held or shall not be required to be held in any church in the diocese or in any building, or part of a building, in the diocese licensed for public worship under section 43 of the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 but not designated as a parish centre of worship.

The use of individual cups at Holy Communion

Click here to read guidance which addresses this question, summarised below:

‘It follows that it is contrary to law for individual cups to be used for each communicant, or for an individual communicant, even if such cups were to be individually consecrated by the president and delivered individually by the minister (including a lay person duly authorised by the bishop under Canon B 12, para. 3) to the communicant.

Even if a shared cup cannot be used for medical reasons, the use of individual cups remains contrary to law and there is no legal basis for a minister to make alternative provision of his or her own that is itself contrary to law. In such cases reception should be in one kind only.’

Intinction of wafers

During the pandemic, guidelines were issued which suggested that the priest should dip the wafer and place it in the communicant’s hand, in order to avoid the risk of infection associated with a shared chalice from which multiple people drink. The most recent guidelines on this matter were issued in July 2022 and have not been superseded. These include the paragraph:

‘If communicants do not wish to receive in both kinds, they may do so by receiving only the bread (communion in one kind) or the president may dip the bread in the wine before giving it to the communicant (simultaneous administration). Intinction by the communicant is not recommended.’

The reason for discouraging intinction by the communicant is one of hygiene. Although the president will have used hand sanitiser immediately before the distribution, not every member of the congregation will necessarily have done so. The concern is to protect people from infection.

These are national guidelines and their purpose is to assist the clergy in making decisions around these issues.

The use of Gluten free and reduced gluten bread at Communion

1. Current position and guidance

1.1. Canon B.17 states that the bread for the Eucharist should be leavened or unleavened and made using the finest wheat flour available.

1.2. The LEGAL ADVISORY COMMISSION OF THE GENERAL SYNOD have issued an advisory note: ‘THE USE OF NON-ALCOHOLIC WINE AND GLUTEN FREE BREAD.’ This states that, to be legal, Communion bread must be made with wheat flour and it is not lawful to use alternatives that do not contain wheat flour.

1.3. It is though possible to use wheat flour but reduce the presence of gluten in the final product. This produces a reduced gluten wafer but not gluten free. These wafers are available from most church suppliers. These may be advertised as ‘gluten free’ even though they are not. It is necessary to check the ingredients before use to ensure that they are reduced gluten wheat flour wafers. However, although many people with a gluten intolerance or even with coeliac disease can tolerate reduced gluten wafers, there are those for whom these will still cause discomfort and not be acceptable.

1.4. Completely gluten free Communion wafers are advertised by most church suppliers, but these are made using products other than wheat flour. Currently these are not lawful to use as Communion bread in the Church of England.

1.5. The legal advice draws attention to note 5 of the Notes to the Celebration of Holy Communion. This states:
“Communion should normally be received in both kinds separately, but where necessary may be received in one kind, whether of bread or, where the communicant cannot receive solid food, wine.”
(Common Worship: Pastoral Services, p79 note 6)

1.6. The liturgical Commission guidance ‘Holy Communion and the distribution of the elements’, refers to the Sacrament Act of 1547 in which it is stated that although the sacrament should be administered in both kinds it can be administered in one kind when necessity dictates. That necessity can be both the danger of public contagion and the personal health issues of individual Communicants.

1.7. It is therefore accepted that some communicants will not be able to receive in both kinds but that receiving either the consecrated bread or the consecrated wine in one kind only is still receiving the whole sacrament. And wherever there is doubt on health grounds about receiving either element, the communicant receiving in one kind can be sure that they are receiving Christ and all the gifts and graces of Holy Communion.

1.8. At the present time, under the provisions of Canon B.17, current Liturgical Commission guidance, and the published legal opinion, it is not possible to lawfully offer a completely gluten free alternative as bread at the Eucharist. The use of reduced gluten wafers/bread made with wheat flour is though permitted.

2. Use of reduced gluten wafers

2.1. When using reduced gluten wafers/bread it is important to be very clear about the fact that they do contain a small amount of gluten. Do not refer to them as ‘gluten free’ but as ‘reduced gluten.’ This will make it clear to Communicants with an intolerance (meaning they need to avoid gluten completely) that these may not be suitable for them.

2.2. Most importantly, ensure that there is no cross-contamination between standard wafers/bread and reduced gluten wafers/bread. Even the smallest contamination can affect some people. It is important to consider this in the way you store standard wafers/bread and reduced gluten wafers/bread. Store them separately and ensure that packets and containers are properly sealed.

2.3. The person who handles standard wafers/bread must not handle reduced gluten wafers/bread. Both in the distribution of the elements and in the setting up and preparation of the table. Whoever prepares the elements before and during the service should thoroughly wash their hands before handling reduced gluten elements. On the table, reduced Gluten wafers/bread must be kept separate from standard wafers/bread. They must be on a separate patten or in a covered container.

2.4. If Communion is distributed from ‘stations’ and there are a number of people requiring reduced gluten wafers/bread, a station with reduced gluten wafers/bread could be provided and directions given. If Communion is received at a rail or in a group there could be someone on hand with reduced gluten wafers/bread for those who request it.

3. Receiving wine from a common cup

3.1. If a Communicant is unable to consume the reduced gluten wafers/bread they may also not be able to receive wine from a common cup that has been used by those who are consuming standard and/or reduced gluten wafers/bread. Very small traces of gluten can be left on the cup or in the wine that it is possible for some to react to. An additional chalice is needed if this is the case. As this will always be a very small number of people (if any), consecrating a small amount of wine in a small home communion cup should be adequate for this.

4. Simultaneous Administration

4.1. Guidance issued during the Coronavirus pandemic that is still in force allows for ‘simultaneous administration’ of bread and wine when a communicant requests this. This allows the president to dip the bread into the wine and so administer the elements together.
This has become common practice in some churches. The dipping, or intinction, of bread by the communicant, although not prohibited, is however discouraged because of the increased risk of contamination or viral transfer through the communicant’s hands.

4.2. If simultaneous administration is used, reduced gluten wafers/bread should not be dipped into wine that is used for standard wafers/bread as there is a high chance of gluten cross contamination. A separate chalice will need to be used for this.

5. Information

5.1. It is important to be transparent about the measures you have in place to avoid cross-contamination to give those who require reduced gluten wafers/bread confidence to receive without concern.

5.2. To avoid some of the complexities of having both reduced gluten wafers/bread and standard wafers/bread in use at the same time, reduced gluten wafers/bread could be used for all communicants. This would also avoid there being any difference in how people receive.

6. Gluten intolerant president

6.1. If the priest presiding at the Eucharist is gluten intolerant it will be necessary and acceptable for reduced gluten wafers/bread to be used for all communicants. If the celebrant has a heightened intolerance and cannot handle standard or even reduced gluten bread/wafers, advice should be sought from their bishop about the elements they use in the administration of Communion.

7. Consultation

7.1. To ensure that the provision you put in place will meet the requirements of communicants who require reduced gluten or gluten free wafers/bread it is important to talk this through with them. The discomfort that some can experience from even the smallest cross-contamination with standard wheat based products is considerable and many would choose to refrain from taking Communion if they are in any doubt.

8. Summary and conclusion

• It is not lawful to offer non-wheat based gluten free wafers/bread at Communion.
• Reduced gluten wafers/bread made with wheat flour can be used.
• It is important to refer to these as ‘reduced gluten’ and not ‘gluten free.’
• Receiving the sacrament in one kind only is still receiving the sacrament in full.
• It is important to take all possible steps to avoid contamination of reduced gluten wafers/bread and any accidental exposure to gluten for those who are intolerant.
• A separate chalice should be made available for those who cannot be exposed to traces of gluten to enable them to receive in one kind only.
• If a priest is unable to use standard or reduced gluten wafers/bread due to their own intolerance they must consult their bishop.

‘Virtual’ celebrations of Holy Communion

The following is from a document published in Advent 2021 by IASCUFO (the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order):

‘In relation to virtual celebrations of the Eucharist, we do not believe the concept of remote consecration to be consistent with Anglican theology and practice, and therefore it should not be recommended. Indeed, we would go as far as proposing that it should be discouraged as far as possible.