Communion cruet

Highlands

This tiny silver water cruet was found by chance in a local river. It was used by a priest to officiate at communion. It is engraved with the letter “A” for aqua. A corresponding cruet for wine would be engraved with a “V”. It was found in the burn near the Cranachan Road Mass Stone in Glen Roy around 1880. Catholics were often persecuted in Scotland and during these periods worshiped in secret at open air masses. The Mass Stone is still located in Glen Roy. In 1966 A MacDonell and D McRoberts published an article in the Innes Review titled ‘The Mass Stones of Lochaber’* featuring the story of the Crananchan Road Mass Stone and the discovery of the lost water cruet.

Material: silver

Size: H 600 mm x Diam 250 mm

Sources: West Highland Museum