THE Church of England’s stance on the use of gluten-free bread and non-alcoholic wine at the eucharist had been “misinterpreted”, the Bishop of Lichfield, Dr Michael Ipgrave, said on Monday afternoon.
Over the weekend, there had been wide media coverage based on his written answer to a question submitted in advance of the General Synod’s meeting. The question had asked whether Canon B17 could be amended, in order to formally permit the use of gluten-free bread and non-alcoholic wine in the eucharist.
Dr Ipgrave had answered that there was a “settled position” in the Church of England that “bread made with wheat and the fermented juice of the grape are the elements to be consecrated in Holy Communion.”
Media coverage had suggested that the Church prohibited the use of gluten-free bread and non-alcoholic wine.
On Monday afternoon, during a Synod questions session, Dr Ipgrave said that his answer, though correct, had been “misinterpreted”, in particular in media reports – something for which, he said, he took his share of responsibility.
“I realise now that I should have pointed out that, in fact, many Church of England churches across the country do routinely offer what is described as gluten-free bread or non-alcoholic wine at holy communion,” he said.
The confusion arose because of the fact that products with very small quantities of wheat or fermentation could still be classified as ‘gluten-free’ or ‘non-alcoholic’, he suggested, and apologised for not clarifying this.
Several ecclesiastical suppliers produced communion wafers with such a low level of wheat in them that they were considered gluten-free, and recommended by Coeliac UK, and there was no reason in canon law why these couldn’t be used, Dr Ipgrave said on Monday.
“I regret deeply that my written answer did not draw attention to the way in which the language of ‘gluten-free’ and ‘non-alcoholic’ is commonly used in this situation and may therefore have been interpreted,” he said, and apologised for “any distress or confusion caused by that lack of clarity”.
He also emphasised that the Church of England’s position was that communion in one kind amounted to a full participation in the sacrament, and he expressed his hope that this would help pastorally in cases where someone was unable to receive either the bread or wine being offered.
In his written answer, Dr Ipgrave cited Notes to the Celebration of Holy Communion at Home or in Hospital, which says that “believers who cannot physically receive the sacrament are to be assured that they are partakers by faith of the body and blood of Christ and of the benefits he conveys to us by them.”
A statement from Church House on Monday said: “Contrary to recent reports following a question asked by a General Synod member, the Church of England is not banning ‘gluten-free’ wafers nor ‘non-alcoholic’ wine at Communion.
“Church of England churches across the country routinely offer ‘gluten-free’ bread or ‘non-alcoholic’ wine at Holy Communion. Many professional ecclesiastical suppliers have long provided wine or bread which may contain tiny traces of alcohol or gluten which can legitimately be considered non-alcoholic or gluten free. Coeliac UK has a list of approved products. We hope this helps clarify and avoid further confusion!”