For all Christians: 1st Communion question

[Deegie]

I am going to an Episcopal church, and the pastors allow all baptized Christians including children to take Communion.

As an Episcopalian, I would say that this is the common practice currently. It is a rather big departure from what I understand to be the more historic practice (and, apparently, still seen in the Church of England) that Communion is not taken until after Confirmation. There are even some Episcopal priests now who now open communion to all, regardless of Baptism, although that is directly against the national canons of the church (section I.17.7).

In my particular parish, we allow each family to make their own decision. We run a First Communion class for children around 1st or 2nd grade (can’t remember right now). But we have some parents who want their baptized younger children communicated and others who make their kids wait until Confirmation. I would say it’s about 50-50 between those who utilize the First Communion class and those who don’t. I am not aware of any requests for infant Communion here recently, but I have heard of it elsewhere and I think we would probably be prepared to accommodate.