Confirmation

Confirming the promises that were made at your baptism

The Church of England invites people who have been baptised to think about something called Confirmation.

What is it?
Is it something I should consider?

First some background:

Where did it all start?

When people first believed in Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago, they were baptised as a sign of their new faith. They believed:

• That Jesus was the Son of God, the Messiah.
• That He died and was raised to life again to break the powers of darkness and death and rescue us from evil.
• That Jesus calls us to be his disciples, to follow him in this life and through death into eternal life.

When they were baptised, hands were laid on them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit (the third person of the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Before Jesus died he promised that the Spirit would come and live in the lives of his followers, to strengthen them and help them live the Christian life. It is the presence of the Holy Spirit in us that ensures that we belong to Christ and will enter eternal life when we die.

Over time Christian parents wanted their children to be part of the faith they belonged to and so they were baptised on the condition that their parents taught them and encouraged them in the faith so that when they were old enough they would take it on themselves.

The laying on of hands to receive the Holy Spirit eventually became delayed until the children were old enough to understand and decide for themselves whether they wanted to welcome Him into their lives and follow Christ. It was seen then as a gift of God to strengthen them in their discipleship.

Later it was the bishop as leader and the representative of the apostles who then 'confirmed' them in their desire to follow Christ after they made a public declaration of their faith in Christ remaking the promises that had been for them as children.

The youngest age our parish recommends for Confirmation is Year 6 (10-11)

Why be confirmed?

There are a number of different reasons for considering Confirmation: It may be that you were baptised/ christened as a baby but you never made a personal commitment to Jesus yourself. Or, perhaps you would like to become a member of the Anglican Church.

Either way, there is an expectation that you will investigate the claims of the Christian Faith prior to Confirmation. Once Confirmed you will be able to receive the bread and wine i.e. the body and blood of Jesus and remember with us his sacrifice for us.

Confirmation Service

This takes place after the Vicar has prepared you and the other candidates. It is an event shared by the Christian family that worships in the parish. Our Confirmations are usually shared with other parishes in the Deanery. All the candidates together make the promises for themselves that were made by the parents and the godparents at your baptism (unless you made them yourself when older). It is a time when you, fully understanding what is involved in being a Christian, can make a public declaration of personal rather than 'borrowed' faith. It is in the course of this service that each candidate is presented to the Bishop who then lays hands on you all individually praying that you be strengthened by the Holy Spirit. Candidates may invite their families to witness and be part of this event.

Our next Deanery Confirmation is on Tuesday 3rd June, 2008. Philip is very happy to chat to anyone considering this step.