Church of England rejects non-alcoholic communion wine

The Church of England has firmly rejected calls for alcohol-free wine and gluten-free bread in the Eucharist, saying that traditional elements are essential to the sacrament. This decision came as the General Synod convened on 10 February.

The Eucharist, central to Christian worship, symbolises the body and blood of Christ in Anglican tradition. Reverend Canon Alice Kemp advocated for dietary alternatives, highlighting the exclusion faced by those unable to consume gluten or alcohol. However, Bishop of Lichfield Michael Ipgrave maintained that receiving in one kind alone still offers full participation.

Canon law requires communion wine to be fermented grape juice, ruling out de-alcoholised options which has had the alcohol removed. With around one in 100 people in the UK affected by coeliac disease, the debate over inclusivity continues, but for now, the Church remains steadfast in its stance, preserving centuries-old practices despite modern dietary challenges.