Pictured is a communion token from 1832, for High Blantyre Old Parish. At nearly 200 years old, this would have been for communion within the former Blantyre church once located within the kirk-yard cemetery at High Blantyre Cross. The church was demolished in the 1860s when the current one was built.
A communion token was a small metal token, usually made of lead, that was used as a kind of admission ticket for participation in the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion) in Presbyterian churches. These tokens were issued during the 18th and 19th centuries, especially during times of religious revival.
How they worked…..Before a communion service, parishioners would attend preparatory services or examinations by ministers to assess their religious commitment and moral conduct. Only those deemed ready and worthy by the minister would receive a communion token.
The tokens like the Blantyre one pictured, were often simple, inscribed with the name or initials of the church, a date, or a biblical verse. They were generally rectangular, circular, or square in shape. On the day of communion, parishioners would present their token to gain access to the Lord’s Table. This practice was part of ensuring that only properly examined and faithful members of the congregation could participate in the sacrament, which was considered a very serious event in the church.
This practice became less common in the late 19th century and is no longer in use today. The tokens, however, are now collectible items and of interest to historians, especially those focused on church history and Scottish Presbyterianism.
