Letter from the Bishop on Intinction
Please see below a letter from Bishop Richard, communicated via his chaplain, about the practice of intinction (ie. dipping the consecrated Host into the chalice). As you will read at the end of the letter, the practice of intinction will continue to be allowed as a pastoral measure, but the actual intinction must be done by the priest himself.
The Bishop has asked me to share the following points in relation to the practice of intinction:
1. The Church exists not only for its members.
A central conviction of Bishop Richard’s ministry is that the Church must always be a place of welcome. As he often says, the Church does not exist only for those already within its walls, but also for those who have not yet come through the door. A visitor to a Eucharist cannot be expected to disclose medical needs or allergies beforehand, and to require such information would undermine the openness of our welcome. For this reason, our practice at the Lord’s Table must be consistent and safe for everyone—whether known or unknown, lifelong communicant or first-time guest. In the Bishop’s view, the desire to welcome must always take precedence over our own preferences or comfort.
2. The concern is primarily about hygiene.
The Bishop recognises that this issue is not solely about gluten contamination. The greater concern is hygiene. Fingers and fingernails are among the most unhygienic parts of the human body, and it is very difficult to guarantee that communicants do not inadvertently dip their fingers into the chalice. This can introduce bacteria, viruses, and particles into the wine in a way that drinking from the chalice rim does not, since the rim can be wiped and turned between communicants. Longstanding experience and medical evidence indicate that drinking directly from the chalice, with proper wiping, is safer than permitting self-intinction.
3. Pastoral provision: priest-administered intinction.
The Bishop does understand that some communicants are hesitant about drinking directly from the cup, particularly in light of recent global health concerns. He believes it may sometimes be pastorally appropriate to provide an alternative. In such cases, the communicant should not dip the host themselves. Instead, the host may be left in the communicant’s hand, and the priest may carefully dip it into the chalice before placing it reverently back into the open palm. It is not appropriate for the communicant to grasp the host after intinction, nor for it to be placed directly on the tongue. In this way, the desire for safety and the desire for comfort can both be respected.
The Bishop is sorry if the guidance felt sudden or overly rigid. This is not a policy from Reverend David, or even this diocese, but is a Church of England protocol. He also asks me to remind you of the Church’s teaching that receiving in one kind is to receive Christ fully, so no communicant is spiritually deprived if they choose not to take the chalice.