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