London - The rapid spread of swine flu infections in Britain has spurred the Church of England to revive a rule drawn up more than 450 years ago when bubonic plague swept the country, media reports said Wednesday.

Some Anglican churches have begun to allow "intinction" - or dipping bread in communion wine rather than sharing the chalice - while others have stopped offering wine altogether.

The practices are permitted under the 1547 Sacrament Act, introduced after the plague, which requires both bread and wine to be given "except necessity otherwise require".

In London's Southwark diocese parishioners have been advised to hug rather than shake hands as a "sign of the peace", while in Chelmsford, in the county of Essex, they have been discouraged from using shared holy water stoops to dip their fingers and make the sign of the cross.

Similar practices have emerged in the Catholic church, with some priests now passing bread into worshippers' hands rather than on to the tongue.

"Some people say they are receiving the body of Christ and he will protect you, but it's not a magic potion. We need to be prudent," said Michael Fay, an Anglican Church spokesman.(dpa)