- Both finishes are the same food grade stainless steel with identical sizes and capacities.
- Brass gets its warm color from a multi-step finishing process; silver is the bare steel.
- Pick the finish that matches your sanctuary, offering plates and cross, then buy every piece in it.
- Starter kits, trays, inserts, covers and offering plates come in both.
RemembranceWare brass vs silver is a question about looks, not performance. Broadman makes every RemembranceWare tray, disk, insert and cover from the same food grade stainless steel, so a brass tray holds the same 40 cups as a silver one.
What differs is how the finish sits in your sanctuary and how well it matches what you already own. Here we compare the two standard 40-cup trays and the rest of the line, using the listings and the brand's catalogue copy.
RemembranceWare: Communion Tray & Disk - Brass Finish: Stainless Steel / Holds
Broadman emembranceWare Communion Tray & Disk
RemembranceWare brass vs silver: what is actually different?
Side by side, the two standard trays share every listed spec. Only the color changes.
| Spec | Brass Tray & Disk | Silver Tray & Disk |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Food grade stainless steel | Food grade stainless steel |
| Finish | Brass, multi-step process | Bare silver steel |
| Cups held | 40 | 40 |
| Height | 2 1/4" | 2 1/4" |
| Diameter | 12 1/4" | 12 1/4" |
| Edges | Double rounded | Double rounded |
| Stacks | ✓ up to five | ✓ with RemembranceWare trays |
| Care | Mild soap, water, soft cloth | Mild soap, water, soft cloth |
Because the steel underneath is identical, mixing finishes works mechanically. A brass insert drops into a silver disk without trouble. It just shows on the table, which is why the brand advises buying the finish first and the pieces second.
RemembranceWare: Communion Tray & Disk - Brass Finish: Stainless Steel / Holds
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Broadman RemembranceWare Communion Starter Kit
Check price →Do the pieces match in size across finishes?
Yes. The listings give the same dimensions for brass and silver versions of each piece, so stacks line up either way.
RemembranceWare piece heights
Inches, same in brass and silver, from the listings
A cover is 11 inches across, a tray 12 1/4, a base 8 1/4. Whichever finish you pick, a stack of base, five trays and a cover looks the same in profile.
How to choose a finish for your sanctuary
- Look at what is already on the Lord's table. Match the cross, candlesticks and offering plates.
- Consider the room. Brass reads warm against wood and stained glass. Silver reads clean in a contemporary worship space.
- Think long term. Churches often add trays over years. Pick a finish you will be glad to buy again.
- Check every listing. Covers, inserts and plates are sold separately by finish, so confirm the color before you order.
For the full list of serving pieces, see our best communion trays guide or browse the RemembranceWare category.
Offering plates in brass and silver
The RemembranceWare offering plates follow the same split, in brass or silver, each with green or red felt in the base. The felt quiets coins and envelopes as the plate passes. Broadman describes the silver plate as simple, shiny and durable stainless steel for serving communion and taking collections.
- Silver with green felt
- Brass with green felt
- Brass with red felt, also in a pack of four
- Silver with red felt
Choose felt to suit your sanctuary carpet or paraments, and the metal to match your trays.
Broadman RemembranceWare Offering Plate
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Broadman RemembranceWare Offering Plate
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Broadman RemembranceWare Offering Plate
Check price →Building a matching set over time
Few churches buy a full communion service at once. More often a starter kit comes first, then extra trays as attendance grows, then a bread plate and offering plates. That is where the RemembranceWare brass vs silver decision pays off: every later piece comes in both finishes, so the set stays consistent for years.
- Trays and disks. Start with enough 40-cup or one pass trays for your largest service.
- Base and cover. A tray base, 1 3/4 inches high, lifts the stack; a domed cover with a Latin cross finial tops it.
- Bread plate. The bread plate is 1 1/8 inches high and 10 1/8 inches across. A matching bread plate cover fits both the bread plate and the stacking bread plate.
- Offering plates. Add plates in the same metal, with the felt color of your choice.
Keep a note of the finish and the part names in your church office. When a new deacon reorders in five years, the list saves a mismatched delivery.
Starter kits: brass or silver?
Both starter kits hold identical pieces, according to the brand: two trays with disks, two bread inserts, one cover, a 100-count box of plastic cups and a cup filler. With inserts in place, two trays serve about 64. The decision is purely the finish.
If you are buying a kit now and plan to add one-pass trays later, buy them in the same color. Our one-pass vs standard tray comparison explains when that upgrade makes sense. Cups for either finish are on the communion cups page.
In RemembranceWare brass vs silver, neither finish is better made. Both are the same food grade stainless steel, with the same 40-cup capacity, 12 1/4 inch diameter and stacking design.
Choose brass for a traditional sanctuary with wood and warm light, and silver for a modern room or to match silver pieces you already own. Then buy every tray, insert, cover and offering plate in that one finish so the table looks complete.
FAQ
What is the difference in RemembranceWare brass vs silver?
Only the finish. Both are food grade stainless steel with identical sizes. Brass gets its color from a multi-step finishing process; silver is the bare steel.
Is RemembranceWare brass solid brass?
No. The brass pieces are stainless steel with a brass-colored finish. Clean them with mild soap and water, and do not polish.
Can I mix brass and silver communion trays?
Mechanically, yes: the pieces fit each other. Visually, mixed finishes stand out, so most churches keep one finish.
Do brass and silver trays hold the same number of cups?
Yes. The standard Tray & Disk holds 40 cups in either finish, and the one-pass tray holds 32 plus 40 pieces of bread.
Do offering plates come in both finishes?
Yes. RemembranceWare offering plates come in brass or silver, with green or red felt, and the brass red-felt plate is also sold in a pack of four.
Which finish shows wear less, brass or silver?
The listings do not compare wear. Both are stainless steel underneath, and both clean with mild soap, water and a soft cloth. Avoid polish and abrasive pads, which can dull the brass finish over time.