Go-ahead for children to distribute Eucharist

Children as young as nine, and worshippers who have not been confirmed, will be able to administer Holy Communion in Anglican churches under rule changes approved by the General Synod this week.

The notion of allowing children to participate was put forward three years ago and has been strongly supported within the Church of England as it indicates that youngsters are “fully included within the body of Christ”. Some feel their involvement may help bring the occasion closer to its original form as a communal meal.

The change was approved despite concerns from the Liturgical Commission, the panel overseeing changes in services, that children would be distributing alcohol in churches long before they were legally old enough to drink it. There were also fears that young children might not be adept enough to handle the chalice and could spill Communion wine.

Until now, lay Anglicans could administer Holy Communion alongside priests as long as they were baptised, confirmed and authorised by a bishop. Children have been permitted to receive Communion without being confirmed for 10 years. The new rules allow anyone who is a “regular communicant” to distribute the sacrament. Alexander McGregor, the synod’s deputy legal adviser, said it would be children aged nine, 10 and 11 who would be able to administer Communion.

Elliot Swattridge, the Church of England Youth Council’s synod representative, said: “If the Kingdom [of God] belongs especially to children, surely they are the most qualified of anyone to administer it.”

The synod, which met in York, also gave final approval to a new rite of baptism that does not refer to the Devil.