Confirmation marks the point in the Christian journey at which the participation in the life of God’s people inaugurated at Baptism is Confirmed by the Bishop by the laying on of hands. Confirmation is the time when teenagers and adults affirm for themselves the faith into which they have been Baptised and make their intention to live a life of responsible and committed discipleship. Through prayer and the laying on of hands by the Bishop, the Church also asks God to give them power through the Holy Spirit to enable them to live in this way.
Anyone may be Confirmed who has been Baptised, who is old enough to answer responsibly for themselves, and who has received appropriate preparation. In the Church of England it has been traditional for people to be Confirmed in their early teens, but there is no set age for Confirmation. In the St Albans diocese, however, the Diocesan Bishop has set a minimum age for Confirmation of 12 years.
Children may receive communion before being confirmed subject to approval and there is a programme of training which takes place before they take the sacrement.
Often adults are Baptised and Confirmed at the same time. When Confirmation is part of a combined rite including adult Baptism it has a slightly different significance. In this case, the Confirmation element signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit following on from Baptism in water. The biblical model for this is Christ’s own Baptism in which, the Gospels tell us, the Spirit descended on Him when He came up out of the water after having been Baptised by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:16-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22, John 1:32-33).
If you would like to discuss the possibility of joining a Confirmation class or to discuss Confirmation generally please contact:
Revd Huw Bellis 01442 851200
Revd Martin Macdonald 01442 384952
To see information on preparation for confirmation, click here. |