3 Essential Considerations for Gluten-Free Communion Service

There is a growing trend of health-conscious people choosing a gluten-free lifestyle. Some people live with serious illness that requires them to strictly observe a gluten-free diet, while others choose it for the health benefits they value. Regardless of the reasons, many churches are faced with requests from congregants to add a gluten-free communion option.

Communion is a place for all members of your church to be welcomed. For increased accessibility, many churches are adding gluten-free bread or wafers to their services; some churches are even converting entirely to gluten-free communion services.

If your church is looking to add or go gluten free, there are three important considerations. Here is a handy guide along with some helpful links to well-established makers of communion bread, wafers, and other supplies that can help you better understand the challenges and opportunities for a gluten-free service.

Cost

While the decision to adopt gluten-free communion is often driven by a desire for inclusivity and accessibility, it is important to acknowledge the associated increase in cost. As the comparison table below shows, gluten-free options—whether wafers or bread—are typically more expensive than their traditional counterparts, sometimes as much as 20 times more for a gluten-free option.

However, for careful church administrators, this increased cost is usually manageable, especially when buying in bulk. For example, some bulk gluten-free wafers are less than $0.03 each, comparable to the cost of some standard wafers. Smaller quantities are also available; there are tradeoffs to consider when deciding whether bulk purchasing is the right choice for your church.

Churches should weigh the desire for individually packaged, cross-contamination-proof options (which are more costly) against bulk options (which are more economical but require careful handling). Freshness and waste are additional considerations when weighing bulk purchase.  All of these considerations are discussed in detail later in this article.

Ultimately, the increased cost is a small investment considering the enhanced spiritual welcome provided to all congregants.

Note: All prices taken from CFaithS.com as of November 1, 2025. Prices subject to change. Click here, or on the product above, to see current listings.

Who Will You Serve?

One of the first considerations is how many of your congregants you intend to provide with gluten-free communion. Do you intend to have a small percentage of congregants who will select gluten free, or do you want to switch to an entirely gluten-free service?

Entirely Gluten-Free Communion Service

Going to an entirely gluten-free service can be a viable option, especially to ensure that communion is accessible to everyone, even those with extreme sensitivity. Immanuel Episcopal Church in Maryland recently made the decision to switch from offering a gluten-free option to an entirely gluten-free service. Head of the Altar Guild Mary Jane Shanks explained, “It was a big decision for us to go gluten free. We have 2–3 people who have extreme sensitivity. They are tolerating this [WCC] GF wafer very well.”

Opting for an entirely gluten-free service simplifies preparation and eliminates the risk of cross-contamination. Since you will be serving the full congregation with gluten-free hosts, it makes financial sense to choose one of the cost-effective bulk wafers, like the World Communion Products 7/8" Gluten-Free Wafers, which can be purchased for less than three cents each, as listed in the table above.

Partial Gluten-Free Communion Service

If you intend to split your communion and offer gluten-free elements only to the people who choose them, it is vital that you maintain absolute separation. For individuals with celiac disease or a severe gluten intolerance, even trace amounts of gluten can trigger a serious reaction. The smallest crumbs or dust from a standard host can contaminate a gluten-free host and make it unsafe for consumption. This can happen when hosts are placed in the same dish, handled with the same tongs, or placed on the same serving cloth. Therefore, churches should implement strict protocols to keep the gluten-free elements completely separate from preparation through distribution.

Options for maintaining safety:

1) Individually Wrapped Hosts. Companies like Swanson offer individually wrapped hosts that remain fresh and protected from cross-contact from the moment they are packaged. However, these come at a higher cost. As of this writing, expect to pay at least $0.25 per wafer, with some retailers charging up to $1.00 per wafer.

2) Specialized Serving Bowls (Ciboria). For churches that use low-gluten hosts or wish to better control bulk gluten-free hosts, specialized serving ware can help. Alviti, for instance, offers the GIFT (Gluten-Free Inclusion for the Table) Low-Gluten Host Ciborium. This is a separate, smaller, communion bowl designed to hold and protect a small number of low-gluten or gluten-free hosts, isolating them from the main batch of traditional hosts.  The smaller bowl is designed to attach to the side of the main ciboria allowing for seamless communion service.

Special Challenges

Stability

Gluten is a complex protein that acts as the primary binder, giving elasticity and structure to baked goods; without it, doughs and batters are more fragile. This is why creating a larger gluten-free wafer that can withstand packaging and handling without crumbling is a significant challenge for bakers.

One example is the Cavanagh wafer. Despite careful packaging, Cavanagh warns that wafers are likely to arrive broken. Some customers report as many as 20% of the wafers in each box being broken and unusable for service.

Availability

Availability could have made the list of essential considerations; however, with American bakers like World Communion Products (WCC) and Broadman Church Supplies, gluten-free communion bread is readily available. While you may see fewer options overall, there are still several reliable choices. There are even alternatives for larger hosts, such as the WCC Large Gluten-Free Altar Host (about 2.75 inches in diameter), which allows churches to maintain the visual and liturgical tradition of breaking the bread during the service.

Freshness

Gluten-free communion elements often have a shorter shelf life and a greater tendency to dry out or become stale more quickly than traditional wafers. To ensure the elements you serve are fresh and palatable, purchase in smaller quantities and store them in airtight containers in a cool, dark place. Open a package only when needed for an immediate service.

For example, CFaithS.com offers gluten-free wafers in smaller packages of 50 or 100, which are ideal for churches with a low or moderate need for the gluten-free option, ensuring minimal waste and maximum freshness for those who require it.

Pro Tip: World Communion Products (WCC) has advised that unopened gluten-free wafers can be stored in the freezer to extend shelf life. This can be especially helpful for churches that purchase in larger quantities to take advantage of bulk savings. Simply thaw the sealed package at room temperature before use.

Prefilled Communion Cups

Another option is to use prefilled communion cups that include both juice and a gluten-free host. Companies like World Communion Products and Miracle Meal offer sealed cups with extended shelf life. While these come at a higher expense, the advantages—maximum convenience and safety—can be worth it. They directly address several common challenges:

• Cross-contamination: Each portion is sealed and untouched until consumption, reducing risk and offering peace of mind.
• Stability: Individual packaging with juice virtually eliminates breakage and handling issues.
• Freshness: Unused cups remain sealed for future services, minimizing waste.
• Availability / Logistics: All-in-one kits simplify prep and reduce the need for specialized volunteer training.

Frequently Asked Questions