Communion set, electroplated nickel silver and glass, British, 1900-1950

Communion set for individual use, electroplated nickel silver holder, attached domed lid, `L' shaped handle, and fastening clip with small cone shaped clear glass cup.

Given by the Church of Scotland

These type of individual communion cups are still in use in Dunfermline Abbey (2006). A cupboard of the holders came from Kirk O'Field church of the Church of Scotland. See file 2006/570.

The individual communion sets were used as follows: "The communion table having on it bread plates and common cups, the minister would communicate himself (bread) then serve the session clerk, who would then serve the elders. The congregation at an agreed time each opened the top of their device, wherein was a cube of bread and they communicated simultaneously. The minister then took the wine, repeating the process and again, the congregation each lifted their individual containers of wine and communicated again together."

Text from Kirkpatrick Dobie, 2006.

This unusual object is an individual communion set for bread and wine which was used to take communion in the Church of Scotland. The invention of individual communion cups has been attributed to the Rev. Jowett, Congregational Minister of Carrs Lane Chapel, Birmingham from 1895-1909. Pressure from his enormous congregation of over two thousand people combined with concerns about public health prompted the innovation. Individual cups became fashionable, particularly in nonconformist communities, and are still used today.

M.11:1 to 2-2007