Confirmation
Confirm, O Lord, your servant with your Holy Spirit.
What is Confirmation?
Confirmation is a special church service in which a person confirms the promises that were made when they were baptized. If you were baptized when you were a child, your parents and godparents made these promises on your behalf. You may be ready to affirm these promises for yourself and commit your life to following Jesus Christ. At a confirmation service, you make these promises for yourself. The Christian community will be there to promise to support and pray for you.
The local bishop will lay their hands on your head and ask God’s Holy Spirit to give you the strength and commitment to live God’s way for the rest of your life.
Preparing for Confirmation
The way that churches help people get ready for confirmation may vary, but all will encourage people to grow in their Christian faith through prayer, reflection, studying the Bible, going to church and living out their faith in their communities.
Do I have to be confirmed?
Being confirmed is a choice not a requirement – the Church of England doesn’t have a formal membership in that sense - anyone is welcome to come along to church, worship and be a part of the church community. Being confirmed is simply a sign of your commitment and involvement. Some leadership roles and being ordained do require confirmation.
If you wish to explore the possibility of being confirmed or feel you are ready to take this step on the journey of Christian life then talk to Canon Colin, Fr Colin or one of the wardens.
Confirmation is one important way in which Christians affirm their faith. In the Church of England, confirmation is always administered by a bishop, before whom candidates renew their baptismal vows and declare their commitment to life in the Body of Christ, the Church. At confirmation, the Bishop will invoke the Holy Spirit upon each candidate.
If you wish to explore the possibility of being confirmed or feel you are ready to take this step on the journey of Christian life then talk to Canon Colin, Fr Colin or one of the wardens.