Review: Drink This, All of You
by Marc Lloyd, Church Society:
‘Drink This, All of You’: Individual Cups at Holy Communion by Andrew Atherstone and Andrew Goddard, Cambridge: Grove Books, 2022 (ISBN 978 1 78827 217 9 pb 28pp)
Drs Atherstone and Goddard consider how wine can and should be shared in Church of England services of Holy Communion given the Covid situation and beyond.
The coronavirus presented unprecedented challenges to public worship and the administration of Holy Communion. But one of the strengths of this booklet is that it explores some partial parallels to shed light on the way forward. Understandably, the Church of England has struggled to agree a united approach. But it is to be hoped that this work will establish conclusively one helpful and legitimate way of fulfilling Christ’s command to do this in remembrance of him. It is a shame that the sacrament of unity has caused some dispute and it will be great to get on with sharing the good news of Jesus, but in my view worshiping Jesus according to his word really matters. The detail of these thirty pages deserve you time.
Although I had already agonised over these questions at length, I found this little booklet informative, thoughtful, fascinating and completely convincing. I confess I had never considered whether or not individual cups might be racist. Some of the history was new to me and especially interesting. I cannot recommend this study highly enough. The work is historically, theologically, biblically, pastorally, legally and practically adept. And highly readable. Anyone interested in this debate, or responsible for worship in the Church of England, ought to engage with it. Indeed, in my view it calls for an urgent response from those opposed to the use of individual cups. If I may venture an opinion, I do not think we have always been well served by all our leaders on this issue. The C of E seems to have got itself in to trouble over a legal opinion, when other lawyers and opinions are available. There has been no desire to test these matters in any court. And the House of Bishops seems to have been unable to agree a clear and united way forward. We either needed much clearer regulation or permission. We were left to muddle through.
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