Silver

Scottish Communion Silver and the Reformation

23 September 2025

Kier Alexander

Ecclesiastical Silver from the 16th Century to Today

Following the Scottish Reformation in the late 16th Century, the design and function of communion plate in Scotland changed significantly. Central to this shift was the denial of the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation. Instead of being regarded as the literal blood of Christ, the wine became a symbolic element, a memorial of Christ’s suffering and sacrifice. This theological change had profound consequences for the objects used in worship, reshaping both their form and their meaning.

The move away from Catholic traditions reduced the import of continental ecclesiastical silver, encouraging parishes to commission pieces from local Scottish silversmiths. As a result, Scotland developed a distinct style of communion silver, shaped both by the craftsmen who made the pieces and the communities who commissioned them.

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During the early stages of the reformed kirk, austerity and poverty limited the silver commissions for communion plate. But in 1617 James VI introduced ‘The Act anent the furnesing of Necessaris for Ministration of ye Sacraments’ ensuring that,

‘All the paroche kirkis within this kingdome to be provydit of basins and lavouis for the ministration of the Sacrament of Baptism, and of coupes, tablis and tabliclothes for the ministration of Holy Communion’.

The Act did not specify the design of the vessels but emphasised that there were to be limited Catholic comparisons. It seems that the earliest types of cups were based on mazers, and relied heavily on the domestic design as to emphasise the move away from what was before. Communion Silver.

What Collectors Look For in Scottish Communion Silver

Scottish ecclesiastical silver has long been admired for its craftsmanship and historic significance. From cups and patens to alms dishes and communion flagons, these objects combine artistry with function, often carrying deep connections to specific parishes. When they appear at auction, collectors approach them with a clear eye for quality, rarity, and history.

One of the first things collectors look for is provenance. Items that can be linked to a specific church, donor, or community often carry more weight than similar pieces without recorded history. Parish inscriptions, donor names, and surviving documentation all strengthen a piece’s appeal and can increase its value at auction.
Communion silver.

The communion requires both a cup to hold the symbolic blood of Christ and a plate called the patten to represent the body of Christ. The varying sizes of cups and pattens often could relate to the size of the congregation, but also, smaller cups and pattens would be for used by travelling ministers. For larger congregations, flagons would have assisted for pouring the wine and we often find alms dishes designed in a similar fashion for the church to raise funds.

Commissions

The success and survival of the post-Reformation church relied heavily on the generosity of individuals. Wealthy patrons, civic leaders, and local landowners often provided the funds necessary for the creation of communion silver, whether for parish congregations or for private chapels on estates. These commissions were not only acts of piety but also expressions of status and community responsibility.

Parish churches frequently benefited from collective giving, where local families contributed towards a cup or paten, their names sometimes engraved for posterity. In private churches, commissions were more personal, reflecting both the donor’s devotion and their desire to leave a tangible legacy within the fabric of religious life. Such inscriptions and donor records are invaluable to collectors today, providing direct links between the objects, the communities they served, and the silversmiths who crafted them.

These patterns of giving helped establish the distinct regional character of Scottish ecclesiastical silver. Each commission, whether modest or grand, added to a wider story of faith, craftsmanship, and identity that remains visible in the surviving pieces we encounter at auction.

Communion Tokens

Anyone attending church who was in possession of a token was known to have proved their spiritual fitness to attend communion. Tokens were made for use in one church and not intended to circulate, but they did. Most churches had “alien” tokens in their Communion bags. People took them with them when they went to a new parish as a sign of their good character.

John Knox (Scottish 1514 - 1572)

John Knox, widely regarded as the founding father of Scottish Presbyterianism, was born in Haddington, East Lothian. Trained initially as a priest, Knox became a passionate reformer, navigating the shifting religious and political climate of the 16th century under monarchs with sharply differing views on faith. Early in his career he was profoundly influenced by the Protestant preacher George Wishart, who was executed for heresy in 1546, an event that left a lasting impression on Knox’s convictions.

Periods of exile in England and on the Continent further shaped Knox's theology. Most significant was his time in Geneva, where he encountered the teachings of John Calvin. There, Knox absorbed the principles of Reformed worship, austerity, the centrality of scripture, and a rejection of Catholic ritual, ideas he would later bring back to Scotland with force and determination.

On his return, Knox played a central role in the Scottish Reformation, which not only transformed the religious identity of the nation but also its material culture. The rejection of Catholic practices led to new forms of worship and, with them, new forms of ecclesiastical silver. Communion vessels became plainer, more functional, and closely tied to the communities and patrons that commissioned them.

The legacy of Knox and the Reformation altered the political and religious landscape for Scotland and still shapes the Church of Scotland to this day. Communion silver, is very much admired for it’s function, design and most pertinently the history of both the silversmith and the church for which it was commissioned for.

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The Market Today

While traditional church silver remains a steady category at auction, demand is broadening. Collectors value both the historic importance of 18th and 19th century works and the innovation of contemporary silversmiths. This blend of heritage and modern design ensures Scottish ecclesiastical silver remains a vibrant part of today’s auction market.

Valuations and Next Steps

For trustees, parishes, or private owners considering the future of church silver, an expert valuation is the best starting point. A valuation provides not only a market estimate but also insight into provenance, craftsmanship, and significance. At Lyon & Turnbull, our specialists in Scottish silver offer free and confidential valuations, helping ensure these important works find the right audience at auction.

About the Author

Specialist

Kier Alexander

Silver Specialist | Edinburgh

kier.alexander@lyonandturnbull.com

0131 557 8844