The Admission of Baptized Children to Holy Communion before Confirmation Anglican Approaches

The member churches of the Anglican Communion take different approaches to the admission of children to communion before they are confirmed. This article surveys developments in the Church of England, which introduced the practice experimentally in 1996 and gave it official sanction in 2006. Since then, dioceses have developed materials for preparation and training. There is a noticeable emphasis on the meal and community aspects of the eucharist in this provision, which tends to draw rather selectively on Scripture to provide a foundation. More active involvement of biblical scholars, theologians and liturgists would provide balance and depth. In the life of the church, such dialogue might contribute towards more imaginative involvement of children in the eucharist, beyond simply allowing them to be communicants.