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Non-eucharistic enthronement service

by
05 April 2013

iStock

From Canon Alex Whitehead
Sir, - I was dismayed by the Revd Gillean Craig's review of the TV coverage of the recent inauguration ceremonies for the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury, especially his crude literalism "at the Vatican he [Jesus] was actually there, present on the altar" (Media, 28 March).

Is not Christ truly present in the opening of the Word? Do we not hear him speak to us in the proclamation of the gospel?

The fact, that the Canterbury service was not eucharistic surely helped it to be more ecumenically inclusive, and thus hospitable to the many representatives present from other Christian traditions, who may not have felt able to receive holy communion. One of the clear strengths of Anglicanism has been its rich tradition of profound non-eucharistic liturgical worship.

I, for one, experienced the real presence of Jesus, even by watching the Canterbury ceremony on TV.

ALEX WHITEHEAD
77 Yarborough Crescent
Lincoln LN1 3NE

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