Even during the Black Death in the 15th century the sharing of communion wine was not stopped in England. The Church of England has taken the unprecedented step of ordering its entire clergy to suspend the sharing of the chalice at Holy Communion services. This measure, says the Church, is a precaution against the spread of the H1N1 swine flu virus.
The archbishops of Canterbury and York have written to bishops telling them to pass this order on throughout England.
The Church of England says the Archbishops’ letters follow advice from the Department of Health “not to share common vessels” for food or drink. The Church added that for those who still wish to offer both bread and wine that the priest dip the communion wafers in the chalice before handing them out to communicants. The letter added that this should be done by the “presiding minister, whose hands should have been washed with the appropriate alcohol based rub before handling the elements and the vessels.”
The Church’s 1547 Sacrament Act, which came about after the bubonic plague, said that both bread and wine should be given during holy communion “except necessity otherwise require”.
Scottish churches have advised their priests not to share the communion cup with the congregation. However, they have added that the priests themselves must decide on this.
Catholic bishops in the United Kingdom are sending similar letters to their priests.
Written by Christian Nordqvist