[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Your contributor "Janus," in
his comment on an item in the News Chronicle which reported the provision by an incumbent of sausage breakfasts after his early service, rightly deplores such popularising of religion. I did not see the item commented on, but if it reported a popularising "stunt," then, of course, his words are not too strong.
It is possible, however, that there may be another side. Some incumbents (I am not myself among them) have been able to arrange a Parish Communion at a reasonably early hour on Sunday when all their communicants meet and share in this act of the worshipping Body. Partly from convenience, but chiefly as a social expression of the spiritual fact they have just shared, some of these incumbents have also been able to establish a Parish Breakfast following on the Parish Communion.
The Liturgical Movement, with which these practices are associated, seeks, if I may risk isolating one aspect of it, to overcome the idea, all too prevalent, of religion as a purely individual affair and to inculcate the corporate sense of mem- bership of the Body, with a consequent growth of Charity. The Parish Breakfast, where it exists, is thus complementary to the Parish Communion.
If this should be the fact lying behind the news item com- mented on it is clearly poles asunder from attracting people by the provision of sausage breakfasts.—I am, Sir, yours
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