I posted this article yesterday and I was overwhelmed by the response! A huge number seemed to centre on administering/receiving communion, climbing up the inside of cassocks and problems in reading and intercessions. After a while it did tend towards a confessional feel!
Here is a collection of some of the best awkward anglican situations shared online.
Shared in the comments:
From David Hartley:
Turning the page and realising the reading you’ve just been given isn’t the one you’d practiced.
From Faith, Hope, Chocolate:
Keeping a straight face when the elderly, deaf lady next to you is singing loudly.
Turning up in habit/clerical gear when everyone else is in mufti.
Realising during the collect that you’re reading the lesson and the book is still in the Sacristy, and having to go and get it.
Not being sure where to go during the procession – and you’re thurifer.
The thurifer accidentally hitting the priest on the head when censing him/her.
The thurible tangling itself in its chains mid-swing and spilling its contents on the carpet.
Comments on Twitter:
Not knowing whether it is 'Glory to you O Lord' or 'Praise to you O Christ' at the gospel so saying 'Glory to you O Claude' #awkwardanglican
— Anglican Humour (@anglicanmemes) October 16, 2013
Apparently at HTB, 'sharing a sign of the peace' isn't enthusiastically shaking hands and saying 'peace be with you' …Oh #awkwardanglican
— Christie Broom (@ChristieBroomie) October 13, 2013
Taking communion in a new church and getting a dirty look when you move to hold the chalice to guide it your lips #awkwardanglican
— Miranda T-Holmes (@MirandaTHolmes) October 16, 2013
@anglicanmemes @SoVeryBritish Mixing up your corporals with your purificators. #awkwardanglican
— Keelechapel (@Keelechapel) October 16, 2013
Not knowing whether the church is Anglo-Catholic or just simply at the mercy of the Victorian Preservation Society #awkwardanglican
— Anglican Humour (@anglicanmemes) October 16, 2013
Having a whispered conversation with the priest at the altar rail when they pass over your child's outstretched hands #awkwardanglican
— Miranda T-Holmes (@MirandaTHolmes) October 16, 2013
Parishioner requests "Abide With Me" for supposedly festive Patronal Festival Eucharist #awkwardanglican #notafuneralIhope
— Clare Barrie (@clare_barrie) October 16, 2013
@anglicanmemes @SoVeryBritish Walking up the inside of your cassock as you walk up the pulpit steps #awkwardanglican
— Keelechapel (@Keelechapel) October 16, 2013
Meekly moving when someone tells you that you are sitting in their seat, & spending the whole service wishing you'd argued #awkwardanglican
— Miranda T-Holmes (@MirandaTHolmes) October 16, 2013
Getting so engrossed in one's #knitting that one misses the cue for the next hymn. #awkwardanglican #organist @anglicanmemes
— Alastair Simpson (@AltheFolker) October 16, 2013
@anglicanmemes Loudly and confidently starting to sing the verse of the hymn the organist cut. #awkwardanglican
— Margaret P. Houston (@HoustonMargaret) October 16, 2013
Wishing you knew something – anything – about the person being commemorated in the calendar at Morning Prayer. #awkwardanglican
— Chris Routledge (@RevdChrisR) October 16, 2013
Having to do a little jump up to light the Paschal candle #awkwardanglican @anglicanmemes
— Karen Kousseff (@kkousseff) October 16, 2013
Being convinced that the composer of the anthem you are announcing cannot possibly be 'Crotch'. #awkwardanglican
— Catherine Fox (@FictionFox) October 16, 2013
Saying 'likewise after supper he took the cup, broke it…' #awkwardanglican
— Catherine Fox (@FictionFox) October 16, 2013
Not knowing how to use a lectionary after 9 years ordained. #awkwardanglican ;-p
— Dave Hammond (@DaveSaviours) October 16, 2013
@anglicanmemes singing 'all things bright and beautiful' and trying NOT to sing the Monty Python version lyrics #awkwardanglican
— Ceindreadh (@ceindreadh) October 16, 2013
Saying "But there is no Diocese of Leeds" then realising they're an RC #awkwardanglican
— Unshaun Sheep (@UnshaunSheep) October 16, 2013
#awkwardanglican 1 newly trained Communion Assistant, full of eagerness to get it right mixed "body" and "blood" and said "Bloody of Christ"
— Saint Paul's Church (@WelburyMitton) October 16, 2013
#awkwardanglican trying to administer chalice to someone kneeling, head down, chin on chest, hands at sides, eyes shut
— Philippa White (@Gumbie_Cat) October 16, 2013
#awkwardanglican kicked person behimd me genuflecting. This actually happened today.
— artsyhonker (Kthryn) (@artsyhonker) October 16, 2013
#awkwardanglican moment lower church tradition gospel reader gets confused and declares 'Praise to you o Christy Lordy'
— Kate Bottley (@revkatebottley) October 16, 2013
#awkwardanglican being sent by the bishop while exploring call to a higher parish and having to admit I'd never heard of morning prayer
— Kate Bottley (@revkatebottley) October 16, 2013
#awkwardanglican The moment nobody goes up to read the lesson and you suddenly realise that it's meant to be you.
— Nicholas Peacock (@revdnickp) October 16, 2013
#awkwardanglican realising halfway through the sermon that you're on intercessions rota this week.
— artsyhonker (Kthryn) (@artsyhonker) October 16, 2013
#awkwardanglican sitting at the front and not realising everyone else has stood up.
— artsyhonker (Kthryn) (@artsyhonker) October 16, 2013
@artsyhonker @anglicanmemes or worse, standing at the front and not realising everyone else has sat down! #awkwardanglican
— Richard Clarkson (@revrichclarkson) October 16, 2013
@anglicanmemes Putting a twenty pound note into collection & wondering if you can take fifteen pounds change! #awkwardanglican
— Jo Reid (@JoReid567) October 16, 2013
Telling the congregation why the next hymn is so fitting for the service theme, only to find its not the hymn you thaught! #awkwardanglican
— Rev. Chris Lawton (@rdChrisLawton) October 16, 2013
@anglicanmemes #awkwardanglicans realising during the prayers of intercession why the vicar was staring intently at you before s/he started
— Vicarvernon (@vicarvernon) October 16, 2013
Reading the Collect for Quinquagesima, when it should be for the Quinquennial. #awkwardanglican @anglicanmemes
— Keelechapel (@Keelechapel) October 16, 2013
Wondering are you close enough to this person to share peace with handshake hug or kiss. Curling up into a ball, sobbing #awkwardanglican
— Gerrarrdus (@Gerrarrdus) October 16, 2013
Saying "Nice sermon" when you're not sure if the preacher's an Arminian, a Sandemanian, a Prelapsarian or a stray arsonist #awkwardanglican
— Gerrarrdus (@Gerrarrdus) October 16, 2013
Just generally meeting other (non-conformist) Christians and feeling I have to apologise – "I'm Church of England, sorry" #awkwardanglican
— Ruth Sutherland (@thebassplayeruk) October 16, 2013
Singing the original words to "be thou my vision" when everyone else is singing that weird new version without the "be" #awkwardanglican
— Ruth Sutherland (@thebassplayeruk) October 16, 2013
priest reciting 'I am the resurrection & the life' Reaching sanctuary steps,turning round & finding bride standing there #awkwardanglican
— David Newsome (@newsome_david) October 16, 2013
Your brain refusing to stop singing Bon Jovi's 'Lay Your hands on Me' at the point of ordination. #awkwardanglican
— Robb Sutherland (@changingworship) October 16, 2013
Not knowing there are 39 Articles, let alone what they are. #awkwardanglican
— Phil Ritchie ن (@philritchie) October 16, 2013
#awkwardanglican That moment when you go to share the peace with a full-blown hug & all they were expecting was a handshake…
— Portsmouth Diocese (@CofEPortsmouth) October 16, 2013
#awkwardanglican Trying to look serious sat behind a tweenager playing Rihanna's S&M loudly through headphones during pre-Communion silence.
— Raquelita (@raquelita_e) October 16, 2013
https://twitter.com/kormosendre/status/390586363793637376
https://twitter.com/KaraNSlade/status/390611944396165120
Causing traffic problems by going the wrong way after taking Holy Communion #awkwardanglican
— Maple Anglican (@MapleAnglican) October 16, 2013
Facing east for the Creed in the quire, then head-butting with the Low Church rector as you bow at the Name of Jesus. #awkwardanglican
— Joshua Ligan (@chutneyoverrice) October 16, 2013
The vicar spending 7 minutes at each of the simultaneous Christmas Fayres across the benefice #awkwardanglican
— Gerrarrdus (@Gerrarrdus) October 17, 2013
Calling a female Anglo-Catholic vicar "Auntie" as a compromise #awkwardanglican
— Gerrarrdus (@Gerrarrdus) October 17, 2013
What is this Book of Common Prayer they are discussing on @BBCRadio4 at the moment? #awkwardanglican
— Phil Ritchie ن (@philritchie) October 17, 2013
Anglican Memes 
These are wonderful. I am not C of E; but I was once stood at the front, singing from my crib sheet, and realised that the congregation where singing a completely different version of hymn from their hymn books or the overhead!