church of england holy communion/eucharist

[unsurebutworried]

I just wondered what the exchanges are at a CoE holy communion. In Catholicism, priest says 'body of christ' and receiver says 'amen' and accepts wafer on tongue or on palm. Can someone please tell me exactly what happens at CoE communion.

I was looking at local churches on web and looked up nearest to me which is CoE. All the blurb on web was exactly same as Catholic church. They have priests, confession, talk about receiving 'body and blood of christ', have masses and stations of the cross etc. I'm a bit confused really.

[BetsyBoop]

Usually it's "body of Christ", but some do the "full" version - "the body which was given for you" - the response is always "Amen". Typically in the Cof E the wafer is placed in the hand rather than on the tongue, but a few do accept on the tongue.

Same for the wine, ie either "blood of Christ" or "the blood of Christ which was given for you". Again the response is "Amen". Typically the wine is taken from the chalice, but a few do dunk the wafer instead.

I look after our Church website, so thanks for giving me the idea for adding that detail to our "what to expect" page :)

The liturgy for the RC church and the CofE are very similar, so if you are used to the RC way of doing things there won't be any big suprises (particularly if the church is an anglo-catholic one, which from you description it might be)
If you would like to have a look at the liturgy you can find it here

Hope that helps :)

[BetsyBoop]

In fact here are the possible variations in "authorised words" for giving communion. I've learnt something today :)

(One thing being that our retired and very elderly assistant priest isn't using authorised words in the "full" version he uses that I quoted above )

[ReallyTired]

I think the difference is that C of E believe that the bread and wine SYMBOLISES the body and blood of christ. We don't believe in transubstantiation.

Different people within the church of england have different beliefs. Churches vary massively in style of worthship. For example our nearest C of E church is very evangelical and doesn't do infant baptism. They offer dedication instead.

A lto of the C of E is very similar to catholicism because the schism happened for non religious reasons. Henry VIII wanted to divorce his second wife.

[unsurebutworried]

Thanks Betsy.

Just one more question re. the wine. Do you have to take the wine? If so do you hold onto your communion wafer until the chalice comes around and then dunk it in?

Communion for dummies here!

[ReallyTired]

Most people take the wine, but some people prefer to hold on their communion wafer and then dunk it in the wine. There are some Polish people at my church who do exactly that. The C of E allows anyone who is baptised to recieve holy communion. There are quite a few ex Roman Catholics who are either single mothers or divorced at our church.

The C of E is pretty laid back and tolerant. Prehaps that laid back nature will be the biggest shock to you.

[unsurebutworried]

Thanks ReallyTired as well. I'm not too bothered about doctrines on either side. I don't think I could find a church I agree on everything with. Melvyn Bragg said he went to CoE for tribal reasons. I think a lot of people do with their respective churches. There are politics in church as well.

Emily Dickinson's www.litscape.com/author/Emily_Dickinson/A_Service_Of_Song.html That's the church I'd really like to go to.

Is it doctrine to disbelieve in transubstantiation? Or is it just not required. Do some adherents to the CoE believe in transubstantiation?

[ReallyTired]

"Is it doctrine to disbelieve in transubstantiation? Or is it just not required. "

I think you would have to speak to the priest of the church that you are interested in attending. The belief in transubstantiation is not required. Adults and children preparing for communion are taught that the bread and wine symbolises the body and blood of christ.

"Do some adherents to the CoE believe in transubstantiation?"
I think that adherents to the C of E believe in all kinds of things. No one would care if you choose to believe in transubstantiaiton.

How do you feel about going to such a laid back church?

[unsurebutworried]

It depends on the sermons really. Its the psychological comfort of spirituality I'm seeking. The theology is important insofar as it doesn't overtly insult. Radio 4's thought for the day has been the best I've come across in London yet, unfortunately.

I'm not quite sure how laid back CoE really is. It may overtly have a corner for all comers, but main guys are still quite a rigid structure. I think Society of Friends are much more open and egalitarian in structure. Also quite progressive in their social aspect. I am always impressed by the rational yet caring way they explore issues. I am used to a church structure however and just want somewhere I can get what I want/need without too much change.

[unsurebutworried]

When I think about, the Catholic churches I've gone to have never cared that I didn't believe in transubstantiation, infallibility, bar on artificial birth control, virgin birth, etc., etc. That's 'cos no one ever asked me. I agree with what Melvin Bragg said about lots of people going to their church 'cos of tribal reasons.

I believe as committees came up with the above, what about the church adherents prior to the pronouncements. Were they not Catholic 'cos they didn't believe them? I know the voting about contraception was a close call. I think there is a lot of politics in churches.

[ClaireAll]

I think there are several words that can be used.

At our church, they say, "the body of Christ keep you in eternal peace", "the blood of Christ keep you in eternal peace". Sometimes they say, "the body of Christ, bread of heaven"; "the blood of Christ, shed for you". I suspect it might depend on the preference of the celebrant or the servers.

We use real bread (from Tesco, no doubt) and we receive on the hand. How exactly people do it depends on how they were brought up. I did my communion classes in my church, and I look at the vicar's face as he gives the bread to me, and say Amen after his words. Other people look down at their hands. I don't know anyone that receives on their tongue or by tincture.

I think any variation is what we would describe as 'petty differences'.

[ClaireAll]

It is pretty standard in CofE to have both bread and wine. The RCC has made up some theology to make communion in one kind acceptable. I never quite understood that. I think they are reserving wine for all the Father Teds to keep for themselves, tbh :), as well as keeping Mass to under 30 minutes.

Why would you not want the wine (the blood of Christ)?

If you don't want the few grammes of alcohol, perhaps your church has an alcohol free wine?

If it is about sharing with several hundred other people Christians, well that is the whole point.

[ClaireAll]

It is not a requirement of the Church of England to believe in anything in particular. When people first start coming to church, they may know nothing of the Christian faith. Gradually, they take on the beliefs and doctrine.

The minimum entry point for Holy Communion is Baptism, but traditionally, it is Confirmation. For credo-baptism and confirmation, the only beliefs you need to have is that there is One God, and that Jesus died for your sins. You do not need to have a PhD in Theology to be an Anglican. The Church of England is there for everyone, wherever they are on their journeys. They recognise that people have life long struggles with many aspects of the faith. That is what keeps it alive.

In the Church of England, we believe that people grow in their faith through discipleship and outworkings of the Holy Spirit, not by being told what to believe.