Mauchline Communion Token

This token is marked "Mauchline. Association Con. 1799" on one side and on the other is the bible verse reference "1 Corinthians XI.28.29" which, in the New International Version of the bible reads "A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognising the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself."   Metal tokens allowing holders to attend Communion in the Church of Scotland were issued by individual churches. The oldest known was found at Carsphairn and is dated 1648. In the 18th & 19th Centuries the tokens were stamped with the name of the church and sometimes the date and the minister's initials, earlier tokens however only showed the initial of the church and a letter, either K for Kirk or P for Parish. The Free Church of Scotland and other independent churches introduced stock tokens by the mid 19th century. By this time though the main church of Scotland had began using cards as a cheaper alternative. The communion service was only held once or twice a year and tokens were issued to people who the minister thought were worthy of them. To get a token people had to prove that they both knew and practised the general principles and values of their church.