A Communion Token is a simple ticket made of metal which allowed the holder to take communion in the Church of Scotland and other Presbyterian Churches. First used in Scotland in 1605, early tokens were made in many shapes, at first of lead or pewter, later of brass, zinc, etc. By the 18th century they were often made by a commercial die sinker with the name of the issuing church usually given in full.
 

On the day of the communion service, tables were placed in the front of the church. The bread and wine were placed on the tables and anywhere from 12 to 40 communicants sat at one of the tables according to the table number stamped on their token.

Tokens continued to be widely used until the end of the 19th century but by 1900 had been generally replaced by cards, which were much cheaper and could carry more information.
 

The token for Marnoch Old Church shows only the name of the church and the date 1869, presumably the first year of issue of this design. The tokens for New Marnoch are for Tables 1 to 5. Both designs have on the reverse ‘This do in remembrance of Me’, a biblical verse commonly used on communion tokens. This set – possibly a complete one – came from the collection distributed as souvenirs by Rev Bob Jones at the 1992 celebrations for 200 years of Marnoch Old and 150 years of New Marnoch. The tokens shown here measure approximately 30mm x 22mm.

For more information on the history of Marnoch Churches click here.