A Retired Rector's Reflections

Not long after I had moved to the North East of England following my retirement I decided to go on a Sunday morning to the Eucharist in an old village church, remote and at a distance from my home. I’d never been in before, and I knew it had several interesting features.

When I arrived I found a small congregation of about ten people. Surprisingly one of them recognised me from years ago, and knew I was a priest. She, and the churchwarden present asked if I would take the service, the Holy Eucharist, as the parish was in a vacancy and the priest that was due had told them a few days earlier that he couldn’t make it.

I wasn’t dressed informally, but I was reassured that the vestments available would work. In the end I gave in, and robed and celebrated the Mass. I made it clear I wouldn’t preach as I had nothing ‘up my sleeve.’ Everyone was very grateful and welcoming.

Curiously I noticed that the altar and credence table were neatly set up for a celebration, with the silverware, cruets and linen in place. I thought this odd as the congregation were not expecting a priest. So, after the service, I asked the churchwarden what they would have done if I hadn’t happen to turn up. ‘Oh,’ he said, ‘that happens sometimes. What we do is during the service at the offertory we place the vessels with the bread and wine on the altar, and then we all read aloud the long prayer, and receive communion.’ By the ‘long prayer’ he meant the Eucharistic Prayer (the Prayer of Consecration).’

Well, I thought, that shows great initiative but I wondered what a bishop would say. I know some would greatly disaprove while others would give a more generous response. I also remembered Bishop David Jenkins, former Bishop of Durham once saying in a different context, “Well, we may have got it wrong, but I wouldn’t put it past God to sort it out!”

Reflecting further, it was clear the small congregation had a desire to receive Holy Communion rather than, say, have a “Service of the Word.” They were prepared to take matters into their own hands – a case of rural anarchy, perhaps. I was reminded me of a thought provoking question the great Dutch theologian, Fr Edward Schillebeeckx, once posed about such actions, in areas severly deprived of priests ro celebrate the sacraments: “Which is the greater commandment, the Lord’s ‘Do this in remembrance of me’ or the Church’s regulations about who may ot may not lead the celebration of the Eucharist?”