Basic intinct

Swine flu has finally made its presence felt in Colwyn Bay.

At morning service yesterday, we were told that our parish priest had decided to follow the guidance given by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and to abandon the sharing of the chalice at Holy Communion until the pandemic was over.  Instead, the Host would be “intincted” in the chalice by the presiding priest, “whose hands have been washed with alcohol-based rub”, before Communion was administered. 

This, when announced, appeared to be accepted by the congregation, most of whom nodded gravely.  Glummer faces, however, were produced when the curate told us that the sign of peace had to go, too.  The curate tentatively suggested that we might, instead, press our hands together and bow our heads when acknowledging our neighbours. 

I and most of my fellow communicants clearly decided that this seemed a rather exotic, un-Anglican greeting and opted, instead, to give a little, self-conscious wave.  This had the unexpected benefit of enabling us to exchange the sign of peace with people on the other side of the very large church, who were normally out of range.

The coffee and chat after the service were accompanied by the sight of members of the congregation rushing forward to greet one another, extending their hands, hastily withdrawing them, and substituting a lot of embarrassed head-nodding.  Some of us forgot and shook hands anyway, immediately apologising for doing so. 

Nobody knows how long the country will be afflicted by the H1N1 virus, but some say the outbreak could last for years.  I’m far from sure that the good people of St Paul’s will be able to keep this up.