Communion Tokens
As well as various other things, I collect communion tokens. Communion tokens were used in most Scottish Churches (and churches in other countries around the world) to ensure that only the members were able to attend Communion services and take the bread and wine.
Traditionally Communion season (which was celebrated quarterly) was preceded by a visit from your Elder. The Elder would distribute your token which you would then present on the Sunday for admission to the Lord’s Table.
You can find further information about Communion tokens at the following websites:
- Communion Tokens of the Free Church of Scotland - Kerr, R. & Lockie, J. R. (1946)
- Communion Tokens of the British Isles - David Powell
- Dunblane Museum - Communion Tokens
- The Communion Token Collector
- Communion Tokens: What are they and how were they used?
- St Andrew’s University’s Collection of some 12,000 tokens
- Communion Tokens - Peter E. Lewis
- Communion Tokens: A Guide for Collecting Scottish, Canadian & United States Tokens - book by Michael S. Shutty Jnr.
You can view my small but ever growing collection of Communion tokens below:
Carnwath_Free_Kirk_1844
Comrie_Kirk_1799
Dairsie_Kirk_1862
Eastwood_Kirk_1854
Ford_Associate_Congregation_1818
Free_Duke_Street_Gaelic_Kirk_1843
Generic_Free_Kirk_1843
Halladale_Unknown_Church
Hamilton_Kirk_1853
Kildalton_Free_Kirk_1848
Kilmore_And_Kilbride_Free_Kirk_1891
Kilmore_And_Kilbride_Free_Kirk_1901
Mearns_Associate_Congregation_1817
Newluce_Kirk_1876
Norham_EPC
Paisley_Free_Kirk_1843
Partick_Highland_Free_Kirk
Renfield_Kirk_1844
Shawbost_Free_Kirk_1894
Shishken_Free_Kirk_1846
Spittal_United_Presbyterian_1850
Stonehouse_Kirk_1736
Stonehouse_Kirk_1835
Stoneykirk_Free_Kirk_1844
Wooler_Presbyterian_Church_1755