London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jul 07, 2025

0:00
0:00

Church of England Upholds Traditional Eucharistic Elements Amid Calls for Alternatives

Church leaders maintain current guidelines for communion bread and wine as requests for gluten-free wafers and non-alcoholic wine are rejected ahead of the General Synod meeting.
The Church of England has confirmed that its established guidelines for the elements of the Eucharist will remain unchanged despite calls from some clergy and congregants for the inclusion of gluten-free wafers and non-alcoholic wine.

Under current canon law, the bread used in holy communion is required to be made from the best and purest wheat flour that is conveniently available, and the wine must be the fermented juice of the grape, deemed good and wholesome.

Ahead of the General Synod meeting in London, scheduled to last five days from Monday, the Rev Canon Alice Kemp raised the issue, asking if the legal use of gluten-free and alcohol-free elements could be considered to address concerns of exclusion among those with dietary intolerances or restrictions.

Kemp noted that some priests and congregants who are unable to consume gluten or alcohol are forced to receive only one element or may even be precluded from receiving both.

In response, Michael Ipgrave, the Bishop of Lichfield and Chair of the Church’s Liturgical Commission, reiterated that changing the rules would overturn established positions on what constitutes bread and wine for the Eucharist.

Ipgrave stated that receiving holy communion in one kind, as is often practised for the sick or for children, is considered full participation in the sacrament.

He further noted that even those unable to physically consume both elements are assured of partaking by faith in the body and blood of Christ.

The synod maintains that although the current legal position may pose challenges for individuals with coeliac disease or those abstaining from alcohol, the existing guidelines provide adequate accommodation.

It has been clarified that using non-alcoholic wine would be contrary to Church law because the process of fermentation, which is essential to producing wine, would be nullified.

Likewise, alternative wafers made from ingredients such as rice, potato flour, or tapioca cannot be considered bread due to the absence of wheat, although wheat-based bread processed to reduce gluten levels is acceptable.

During the Eucharist, worshippers who cannot consume the traditional elements may choose to receive a blessing instead.

The Church's approach reflects its longstanding liturgical practices, while previous temporary measures, such as the use of individual cups during the Covid pandemic, demonstrate its capacity to adapt under specific circumstances.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
×