in matters of religion, the being united in doctrine and discipline; in which sense of the word, different churches are said to hold communion with each other.

In the primitive Christian church, every bishop was obliged, after his ordination, to send circular letters to foreign churches, to signify that he was in communion with them. The three grand communions into which the Christian church is at present divided, is that of the church of Rome, the Greek church, and the Protestant church; but originally all Christians were in communion with each other, having one common faith and discipline.

Communion is also used for the act of communicating in the sacrament of the eucharist, or the Lord's supper. See Religion.

Communion Service, in the liturgy of the church of England, the office for the administration of the holy sacrament, extracted from several ancient liturgies, as those of St Basil, St Ambrose, &c.

By the last rubric, part of this service is appointed to be read every Sunday and holyday, after the morning prayer, even though there be no communicants.