The Admission of Children to Holy Communion

What follows is a very basic introduction to the background and history of the debate.

For more detail, you can obtain the Diocese's "Guidelines for the Admission of the Baptised to Holy Communion before Confirmation" document (catchy title, innit?!) from 

Janet Slater (Bishop John's PA) 0113 224 2789

•  The Background
•  Powerpoint presentation on the history and development of practice (see the "notes" pane of the presentation for details to go with each slide)
•  "Communion Quiz" - a fun follow-up powerpoint to see how much people remember!
•  Some arguments in favour of a change
•  Some "pro"s and "con"s to take into account

The Background:

In 1997, the General Synod of the Church of England brought out some guidelines for churches who wanted to “admit children to Holy Communion” before they were confirmed.  This was in response to a process of thought, and prayer that had started in the 1960’s, reflecting on the role of children in our churches – and the importance for a child’s faith development, of a sense of “belonging”.

In 1999, Ripon & Leeds Diocesan Synod passed a resolution welcoming the House of Bishops’ Guidelines regarding Communion before Confirmation, and inviting PCC’s to consider adopting the practice laid out therein.

In early 2001, clergy received copies of the Guidelines, and were asked to discuss them with PCC’s and congregations.

Some Arguments in Favour of a Change:

Holy Communion is the “family meal” which Christians share together, through which Jesus Christ becomes present to us, and nourishes us spiritually in bread and wine.  For the last 200 years, children have not been allowed to share in this “family meal” until they were confirmed – normally at the age of 11 or 12 – but it was not always thus.  

From the earliest church up until the 19^th Century, it was always Baptism that was the gateway to full membership of the Church – and all who were baptised were permitted to share in the Eucharist.  In the Eastern Orthodox Church, this is still the case.

Why should the Church of England return to this earlier, way of doing things? :

q         Because faith grows (in adults as well as in children) through belonging to a community and sharing in its rituals regardless of our level of understanding.

q         Because it seems only right that children receive the spiritual benefits of the Eucharist as they grow.

q         Because confirmation has become a “rite of exit” in many churches – which devalues the preciousness of Communion.

q         Because the “family meal” should include the whole family.

q         Because Jesus challenges adults to become “child-like” and to learn from the children in our midst.

Some "Pro's and Con's" to take into Account

These are the notes of a debate that took place in a large Parish with many children involved in the life and worship of the church.

Points in Favour of a Change

·        Communion a meal that we share - so should be open to all.

·        Makes children feel more included - we share “the body” because we belong to “the Body”.

·        Acknowledges children’s involvement in the ministry of the church.

·        Children are “asking to be fed” - so surely we should feed them?

·        Encourages children to question - makes things more open.

·        Sharing a meal is a heart-symbol kids can appreciate long before the head-understanding of confirmation faith comes.

·        Are we punishing children for being children?

·        Adults no more likely to be “in the right frame of mind” than kids!

·        We don’t ask teenagers or adults to prove their understanding of communion before receiving, so why children?

·        We don’t ask children to “understand” their baptism!

·        Communion not about understanding, but mystery.

·        Doing leads to understanding.

·        Emphasises importance of grace - God’s free gift to us.

·        God loves us for what we are, not for the promises we make.

·        Baptism is the Christian sacrament of initiation - there should be no need to have to jump through more hoops before fully “belonging”.

·        Frees up confirmation to be an adult commitment of personal faith.

·        Might lead to less teenagers getting confirmed simply because it’s “expected”.

·        It would make it easier for un-confirmed teenagers/adults to return to church feeling they belong.

·        Why did children stop receiving in some parts of the church and not others, 1000 years ago - human, not divine rules?

Concerns about a Change

·        Some children don’t feel left out.

·        Does it imply that a blessing is second-best?

·        Yet another thing that children haven’t got to wait for.

·        A certain level of maturity and understanding is necessary to receive in an appropriate frame of mind.

·        At what age would we draw the line?

·        Is it OK to give children alcohol?

·        Will it make confirmation irrelevant?

·        Will many end up never getting round to being confirmed?

·        What would children gain by receiving the bread and wine?

·        Desire to avoid “First Communions” becoming a jamboree.

·        Will it detract from “specialness” of Confirmation? - [Taking Communion for the first time is an important part of that rite of passage.]

·        It’s not fair on those children and teenagers who’ve had to wait - how will they feel?

·        What about unbaptised children or adults?

·        What about the practicalities - how to know who to give to at Parade Services e.g.

·        Some parents would prefer to have the final say in whether or not their children receive, rather than having a “blanket” policy.