22nd April 2026 - Red Cross Meeting and Communion Trays

Thought for the day :"Saw a great documentary about beavers, best dam programme I have seen for a while"

Dry 

A day in Bridgend today for the Appendant Orders of the Red Cross of Constantine. My first time doing Prelate Part 1 - normally do the Prelate part 2, but all went fairly well. Of course, note to self - it doesn't tell you in the book that it is all done in darkness, but the instructions about lighting the candles was a good clue !!   Learned it well but rather taken aback when suddenly we were plunged into darkness!!  Couldn't even see the candidate to tell if he had done the signs properly !!

But started the day with Tilly meeting Squirrel Nutkin through the window. 

Toby would have been going nuts but Tilly just watched .  TThough think that the remainder of the day she has been trying to catch one !!

   

But while I was away in Bridgend for the Red Cross Meeting, The Deputy  brought out this 1913 drink holder that they use in his local chapel for non conformist holy communion.

I had to take some pictures as the structure is excellent 

This is the carry form 

First lid comes off with a layer of shot glasses
(smaller than current shot) 

and first layer lifts off for another 
layer of glasses 

Was fascinated by the structure - made in Birmingham 

So what does AI say 

The item in the image is a Holy Communion tray, used in Christian church services to distribute wine or juice to a congregation. 

Function and Design

• Individual Service: These trays became popular starting in the 1890s as a more hygienic alternative to sharing a single common cup, specifically to prevent the spread of diseases like tuberculosis.
• Cup Holders: The tray features multiple slots specifically designed to hold small "shot glass" style communion cups.
• Stackable Layers: Trays like the one pictured are often stackable, allowing multiple tiers to be carried at once to serve large numbers of people.
• Lid and Bread Holders: Many sets include a lid to keep the contents clean and some models, like the "one-pass" style, have a center section for communion bread or wafers. 

Common Styles and Pricing

Modern versions of these trays are typically made from polished stainless steel or aluminium for durability. 

So there you have it 

Cheers