The Rt Revd Olivia Graham, Bishop of Reading, St Birinus House, Theale, Reading, RG7 5AS
Tel 01865 208741 email bishopreading@oxford.anglican.org
Reading Episcopal Area
The Rt Revd Olivia Graham
To: Incumbents and Churchwardens
By email
31st July 2024

Dear Colleagues,
I have become aware that quite a lot of churches in Berkshire are still offering priestly intinction of wafers at Holy Communion – a practice which was adopted during COVID. If your church has reverted to the normal practice of receiving wine from the common cup, congratulations! And no need to read further.
However, if your church is still offering intinction, please read on.

Intinction has been practiced by a few in the Church of England for a long time, and is very much discouraged by the Bishops as it should only ever be an exceptional practice. The sharing of the common cup is one of the foundation stones of Anglican sacramental practice, dating back to Cranmer’s Prayer Book and part of our heritage, and which in normal times should be normal practice. Of course, during Covid many people became used to intincting, (as they did a few years ago during the Swine Flu epidemic), and there will be some who wish to continue with this because they are nervous about infection.

I am now requesting that you cease to offer intinction as an option. Of course, no one needs to drink from the chalice if they do not feel comfortable doing this, as receiving the bread alone is sufficient to receive the Sacrament. But for those who do wish to receive the wine, the common cup is there. Drinking from a silver vessel is extremely safe as germs do not survive contact with the metal for long and the chalice is always wiped.

Please share this letter with your ministry team/other colleagues. The autumn would be a good time to make this change and I suggest that you give the congregation a week or two’s notice before you make it. It would also be wise to invite anyone who has concerns to speak to a warden or member of the ministry team so that you can respond pastorally.

If you need any support as you introduce this change, or you have any concerns about this, please be in touch with me or one of the archdeacons. And we will, of course, revisit this in the unhappy event that there is an adverse change in the public health situation.

I hope you have a restful summer.
With best wishes, and many thanks for all you are doing.

The Rt Revd Olivia Graham

c.c. Ven Stephen Pullin, Archdeacon of Berkshire
Revd Canon Liz Jackson, Associate Archdeacon of Berkshire