Dictionary

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Anglican

Anglicans form the family of Christians closely related to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Whilst tracing their inheritance back to Christ and the earliest Christians and to the ancient Roman Catholic church, the sixteenth century Reformation was a crucial moment for Anglicanism.

Bishop

‘Bishop’ comes from the Greek word for ‘overseer’. So a bishop is a senior Christian minister authorised to have oversight for God’s people. As well as duties given to deacons and priests, bishops confirm and ordain.

Diocese

‘Diocese’ refers to the geographical territory in which a bishop exercises oversight. The Church in Wales is divided into six dioceses each with its own cathedral in which is housed the cathedra (the bishop’s ‘chair’ or ‘throne’).

Eucharist

‘Eucharist’ comes from the Greek word for ‘thanksgiving’. At the Eucharist the Church remembers Jesus’ last supper where he gave bread and wine to be his body and blood, a sign of his saving love. See also Holy Communion.

Holy Communion

At Holy Communion blessed bread and wine is shared, by which we receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The congregation gives thanks for Jesus’ life, his death and resurrection and his continuing presence. See also Eucharist.

Priest

‘Priest’ comes from the Greek word for ‘elder’. Priests in the Church in Wales are those authorised specifically to proclaim forgiveness of sins, preside at the Eucharist and bless God’s people, as well as other responsibilities.

Home Pobl Dewi: December 2025 Clarifying the rules on remote Communion

Clarifying the rules on remote Communion

Retraction:

The Bishop of St Davids has decided that an article in the last issue (p4, “A Cyber-success story”) should be retracted. The reasons for this are four-fold.

First, reference was made to those in a Zoom service having communion at a distance. It describes those involved receiving bread and wine where they were, while a priest read the words of consecration from their location. For the avoidance of doubt, “remote communion” of this kind is not permitted in the Diocese of St Davids or the wider Church in Wales, and is contrary to the common Anglican understanding of the Eucharist.

During the Covid Pandemic, the International Anglican Liturgical Consultation considered carefully how virtual communion might happen within the Anglican understanding of the Eucharist. They stated that the normal and expected setting for the celebration of the Eucharist is within a local community, meeting in a single physical location, with worshippers gathered together at the same time. The conclusions of the Consultation were accepted by the Anglican Consultative Council in 2023. The practices described in the recent article did not fulfil this requirement. Any cleric found to be participating in such a service in future is liable to lose their bishop’s licence.

Secondly, within the diocese of St Davids, all worship is part of our common fellowship in Christ. Within our diocese, the Bishop, as chief shepherd, has oversight of all who serve through licensing and commissioning people to particular ministries. This ensures that those who lead are competant and safe to do so. The online meeting referred to in the article is outside our diocesan structures. As the article describes that online “church” as a full expression of the Christian faith, aside from any local communion, it is a departure from Anglican faith and discipline. Any cleric or lay person holding a licence or commission that leads or participates in this online meeting will not be able to continue to hold a licence in this diocese.

Thirdly, as Christians we are bound together in Christ. Within the body of Christ, we commit to supporting one another, including through financial support. The article noted that this online meeting makes no contribution to ministry within this diocese, nor does it see it as necessary. This is at odds with our basic commitment to one another as members of Christ’s body here.

Fourthly, everyone in this diocese has access to a priest or commissioned pastoral visitor. If anyone feels they have not been given appropriate pastoral support, they should contact the bishop’s office where appropriate alternatives will be made.