A plain man's guide to the Christian faith in 13 parts
11: Bread, Water and Wine
Gerald Priestland looks at the use of sacraments by the church, notably the Eucharist, Holy
Communion or Lord's Supper. Christians do not merely recite words when they worship God. They baptise, they marry, they administer bread and wine. There's much argument about the meaning of this. Is it magic, symbolic, a reminder, or just mumbojumbo? The BBC's Religious Affairs
Correspondent finds out why most churches use sacraments and why some don't use them at all. Music arranged by BARRY ROSE
Researcher PATRICK FORBES Producer CHRIS REES
(Repeated: Wed 4.0 pm) Book (same title), £ 3.50, from booksellers
Cassettes of the series are available. Details from Room 231, Broadcasting House, London W1A 1AA An article by Gerald Priestland based on this programme will appear in THE LISTENER, issue dated 3 December