What is confirmation?
For those who have been baptised into the Christian church either as a child or an adult, confirmation is another important milestone in the journey of faith.
When you are confirmed into the Church of England you are committing yourself to adult membership of the Church, in a service in which you confirm your faith, and God (through the Bishop) confirms you with his Holy Spirit.
The following extract from the service gives you a flavour:
Almighty and ever-living God,
you have given these your servants new birth
in baptism by water and the Spirit,
and have forgiven them all their sins.
Let your Holy Spirit rest upon them:
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding;
the Spirit of counsel and inward strength;
the Spirit of knowledge and true godliness;
and let their delight be in the fear of the Lord. Amen.
The bishop addresses each candidate by name
N, God has called you by name and made you his own.
He then lays his hand on the head of each, saying
Confirm, O Lord, your servant with your Holy Spirit. Amen.
All Defend, O Lord, these your servants with your heavenly grace,
that they may continue yours for ever,
and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more
until they come to your everlasting kingdom. Amen.
Once you have been confirmed you are invited to receive Holy Communion on a regular basis to continue to help grow in Christ. Communion is usually a part of the confirmation service itself.
At what age can I be confirmed ?
Usually 11 or over although special permission can be
sought from the Bishop of Portsmouth to confirm at a younger age.
Do I have to have been baptised ?
Yes. If you are not baptised it is
possible to make baptism part of the confirmation service or to hold it on a
separate occasion prior to the confirmation service.
Where does the service take place ?
There are 2 confirmation services a year in the area, and 2 or more services at Portsmouth cathedral. In this parish we usually prepare people for confirmation once a year to make it a great parish occasion!
What preparation is involved ?
We usually ask candidates to come on a preparation course that lasts six or more weeks. This course covers the basics of the Christian faith, what it means to be confirmed into the Church of England and also all about the service of Holy Communion. We often run two separate courses, one for adults and one for young people.
How do I find out more ?
Contact the church office on 01329 661154