Communion Token and Méreaux

In the Reformed churches in Europe, members of the congregation had to purify themselves of sin and resolve conflicts before participating in Communion so that the congregation could become the "body of Christ" in the Communion. This was the responsibility of the consistorial committees of morality. In some places, these controlled access to Communion by issuing tokens (Communion tokens or méreaux) which had to be presented before Communion.

Above: Scottish Communion token, colour photograph, photographer: David Powell; source: Powell, David: Communion Tokens of the British Isles, http://www.mernick.org.uk/lnc/DPowell/CommunionTokens.htm.

Below: Huguenot méreaux, colour photograph, unknown photographer; source: with the generous permission of the Musée du Désert, http://www.museedudesert.com/article5868.html.