At Confirmation, Christians who have been baptised receive a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit to strengthen them in faith and discipleship. It is a joyful step of commitment, marking a deeper belonging to Christ and to his Church. If you have been baptised and want to grow more deeply in your faith, you are warmly invited to be confirmed in the Church of England.
What is Confirmation?
Confirmation is commonly called a Sacrament; an outward sign of God’s inner work.
In Confirmation, the outward sign is the laying on of the Bishop’s hands, with prayer (and anointing) for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes the candidate is anointed with oil in the sign of the cross.
The inner work is the strengthening of the candidate by the Holy Spirit for Christian life and witness.
When a Christian is confirmed, the Church prays for the strengthening of the Holy Spirit to empower them for mature Christian life, and rejoices in the outpouring of the Spirit upon God’s people.
On the day of Pentecost, the apostles, once fearful and uncertain, were filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered to speak boldly, to serve, and to bear witness to Christ. Similarly, in Confirmation, individuals receive the strengthening of the Spirit to live out their baptismal calling with renewed courage and faith.
The Christian life is not a private journey but a calling into the life of the Church. Confirmation roots us more deeply in the community of faith and its mission. It’s not just a personal milestone, but a moment of being commissioned, like the first disciples, to join in God’s work in the world.
Why be Confirmed?
To be confirmed is to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit for Christian discipleship, but it is also to make a deliberate choice to live that discipleship within the Church of England. It means entrusting yourself to the care and oversight of a Bishop, and sharing in the life of your local parish as part of the Church of England.
In Confirmation, the ministry of the Bishop is not accidental or ceremonial. The Bishop represents the unity of the Church, entrusted with teaching the faith and guarding its truth.
By prayer and the laying on of hands, Confirmation shows that your faith is part of the one Body of Christ, rooted in the apostles’ witness and continuing in the Church today.
What happens at Confirmation?
The bishop places hands on each candidate’s head, praying for the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower them in their faith. Candidates are then anointed with the Oil of Chrism; the sign of the cross is made in oil on the forehead.
At Confirmation, the Holy Spirit strengthens and confirms those who have been baptised; in response, they affirm for themselves the faith into which they were baptised and their intention to follow Christ.
Who can be Confirmed?
Anybody who has been baptised, and is prepared to make a publication affirmation of faith. Traditionally, Confirmation is required before someone can receive the Eucharist.
Usually Confirmation would take place after a short course of teaching. If you would like to be Confirmed, or know somebody else that might desire this, please speak to the Vicar.
