Gluten-Free Bread and Alcohol-Free Wine in Communion?

Few topics in church practice stir as much passion as the elements of Holy Communion. Recently, the Church of England reaffirmed its position that Communion bread must be made from wheat flour and the wine must be fermented grape juice—thus disallowing fully gluten-free bread and entirely alcohol-free wine. This move has sparked questions: Is such a ban truly scriptural, or is it an outcome of church tradition and practical concerns? Let us explore the biblical evidence and see how it measures against the Church’s current stance.

1. What Does Scripture Say About the Elements?

1.1 Bread at the Last Supper

The New Testament records Jesus taking “bread” during the Last Supper and telling His disciples, “Take, eat; this is My body.” (Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19). The original Greek word used here is ἄρτος (artos), which can be rendered simply as “bread.” Scripture nowhere specifies that this bread must be wheat bread or that it must contain a certain level of gluten.

However, we do know that, as part of a Jewish Passover meal, Jesus would have used bread customary for that occasion. Jewish Passover bread is typically unleavened wheat bread—though nowhere in Scripture is there a rigid clause insisting this composition must remain unchanged in every church context. The link to wheat is a historically grounded assumption tied to Passover practices of the day, but the New Testament itself does not prescribe the exact flour content.

1.2 Wine, Grape Juice, or “Fruit of the Vine”?

When Jesus took the cup and gave it to His disciples, the Gospels consistently refer to it as “the fruit of the vine” (Matthew 26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18). Historically, in Jewish culture, “fruit of the vine” strongly suggests fermented wine. Unfermented grape juice, while possible in certain settings, was less common in an era without modern preservation techniques.

Still, Scripture never stipulates exactly how much alcohol must be present for the cup to be considered valid. Christians of various traditions have drawn different conclusions. Some argue for unleavened bread and full wine; others suggest that “fruit of the vine” might include alcohol-free grape juice, especially in situations where health or sobriety is a concern.

2. Tradition and the Church’s Rationale

2.1 Historical Continuity

One core reason the Church of England (and historically, the Roman Catholic Church) insists on wheat bread and fermented wine is continuity with the historical practice of the early church. From the Apostolic age onward, wheat bread and wine were near-universal in the Mediterranean world. By adhering strictly to the same ingredients, church leaders believe they maintain a tangible link back to the Last Supper.

2.2 Concern About Validity and Identity

Many churches—both Catholic and some Protestant traditions—teach that for the sacrament to be considered valid (or “consecrated”), it must substantially resemble the original elements used by Christ. In this view, wholly substituting wheat with rice or potato flour, or skipping fermentation altogether, risks altering the essence of what Christ instituted. The Church of England’s stance, as articulated by Bishop Michael Ipgrave, revolves around the belief that using wheat bread and fermented wine preserves the heart of Jesus’s command.

3. The Question of Inclusivity and “Injustice”

3.1 Full vs. Partial Participation

The controversy arises especially for people who, for medical reasons, cannot consume gluten or alcohol. The Church of England affirms that receiving Communion “in one kind” (i.e., just the bread or just the wine) is still full participation in Christ’s sacrament. In its understanding, grace is not diminished if a person can only take one element.

But those affected argue that while this view may be theologically defensible—based on centuries of Christian practice—it feels like an exclusion. Indeed, the Church acknowledges this as an “injustice” but sees no straightforward solution without overturning longstanding sacramental principles.

3.2 Scriptural Compassion vs. Scriptural Specificity

In many other Christian communities, considerations of compassion, inclusion, and hospitality have led to the use of low-gluten bread or non-alcoholic wine. Proponents of such alternatives cite scriptural imperatives about mercy and not placing “a stumbling block” before believers (Romans 14:13). The argument is that while Jesus’s institution is important, so is the pastoral care of people unable to ingest certain ingredients.

That said, those who uphold the wheat-and-fermented-wine stance emphasize that Scripture is describing bread (implicitly wheat in Jesus’s setting) and wine. Even if it does not list a chemical breakdown of each element, it does anchor them in a Jewish Passover context, which historically presupposed fermented grape wine and wheat-based unleavened bread.

4. Scriptural or Merely Traditional?

4.1 Scripture’s Ambiguity

From a strictly biblical perspective, we do not find an explicit command: “Thou shalt use only wheat-based bread with gluten, and only fermented grape juice with alcohol.” We see, rather, references to what Jesus used at the Passover meal. These references do not specify every characteristic of the bread or an alcohol content percentage of the wine.

4.2 Strong Historical and Theological Precedent

What we do have is a strong historical tradition tracing the practice of using wheat bread and fermented grape wine to the earliest days of Christianity. Because Holy Communion is among the most sacred rites, churches have historically been reluctant to deviate from what they believe Christ Himself ordained, even if Scripture does not list ingredient requirements in detail.

4.3 Weighing Against the Whole Counsel of Scripture

In broader scriptural teachings, caring for the weak and removing unnecessary barriers to worship is also a profoundly biblical concern. For example, in 1 Corinthians 8 and Romans 14, Paul teaches us to be mindful of those with different needs or vulnerabilities. Those who champion gluten-free or alcohol-free alternatives cite this pastoral obligation to ensure all are welcomed at the Table without harm.

Hence, we encounter a tension:

• On one side, there is fidelity to the pattern of Jesus’s Last Supper, historically assumed to involve wheat and wine.
• On the other side, there are scriptural teachings encouraging compassion, unity, and removing barriers.

5. Conclusion: Is the Ban “Scriptural”?

The short answer is that Scripture itself does not explicitly ban gluten-free bread or non-alcoholic wine. The references in the Gospels simply indicate that Jesus used “bread” and “fruit of the vine,” reflecting first-century Jewish practice. Over centuries, church tradition developed the firm convention that “bread” means wheat bread and “wine” means fermented grape juice.

Thus, the Church of England’s ruling has more to do with a deep-seated theological and historical interpretation—aimed at preserving perceived fidelity to the Last Supper—than it does with a direct biblical prohibition against substitutes. While the Church’s desire to remain consistent with the early church is understandable, Scripture does not provide a cut-and-dried command forbidding modified elements in extreme or necessary circumstances.

Many denominations seeking to welcome believers with celiac disease or those in recovery from alcoholism have chosen to interpret Scripture in a more flexible way, believing that care for the individual is also biblically justified. Others maintain that the integrity of the sacrament as instituted must remain absolutely unchanged.

Ultimately, whether one calls the ban “scriptural” hinges on how strictly one interprets the biblical texts and how much authority one grants to longstanding tradition. In practice, the Church of England’s decision reflects centuries of ecclesial teaching and interpretation rather than an explicit biblical decree. The debate, therefore, is less about finding a hidden command in the pages of Scripture and more about how best to stay true to Christ’s example while extending His grace to all who come to the Table.