Confirmation FAQ

What is the right age for confirmation?

There is no right age for a person to be confirmed. Anyone may be confirmed who has been baptized, if they are old enough to answer responsibly for themselves. As a general rule anyone who is over 10 years old and can answer for themselves could be ready for confirmation but the right time for you might be at any age.

How can I tell if I am ready for confirmation?

People mature in their faith in different ways and at different ages. It is important that you come to Confirmation with firm personal conviction that it is right for you at this point in your life. You should pray about this and ask others to pray for you. You should talk to Mike, your vicar, and even if you are unsure about being confirmed you may wish to participate in the confirmation course to explore your faith further as you think about it.

Can I receive communion without being confirmed?

Confirmation is about so much more than receiving the bread and wine. Anyone in preparation for the confirmation can receive communion as part of that preparation. In Gloucester Diocese children may be admitted to Holy Communion when they reach an age at which they can understand the meaning of the Eucharist or Holy Communion (to the extent as any of us ever can understand it). Adults who take communion in other denominations are welcome to take communion in the Church of England. This means that some people will come to confirmation having been participating in Holy Communion while others will receive their first Communion after Confirmation.

I was baptized as a child, why do I need to be confirmed?

If you were baptized as a child, in confirmation, you are confirming the promises your parents made on your behalf at your baptism about your commitment to a journey of faith. In confirming this faith you are becoming a member of the local and worldwide Christian family. In turn the Church will promise to support and pray for you.

In confirmation we recall the promises made at baptism, we are thanking God for his gift of life and publicly acknowledging his love. We are acknowledging that we all need to turn away from selfishness and evil and to accept God’s offer of a new start.

I’m not a regular churchgoer. Can I still be confirmed?

Confirmation is about becoming a committed member of the local and worldwide Christian family. If you would like to make this commitment then please contact Mike, your local vicar to discuss your thoughts.

What if I wasn’t baptized as a child?

If you were not baptized as a child and want to make a commitment of faith, you might consider adult baptism or you can be baptized and confirmed in the same service or baptized shortly before your confirmation. You should discuss this with Mike, your vicar.

What does it cost?

A confirmation service is free.

What happens during confirmation classes?

The purpose of confirmation preparation is to ensure that those who are confirmed have a proper understanding of what it means to live as a disciple of Christ within the life of the Church of England. Preparation discusses what it means to be a Christian, what it means to be confirmed, how to grow as a Christian. Sessions encourage candidates to grow in their Christian faith through prayer, reflection, studying the Bible, participating actively in the life of the church and demonstrating their faith in their communities.

Do I need to be confirmed to work for the Church of England?

The Canons lay down that those who wish to exercise certain leadership roles in the Church of England, including ordained ministers, readers and licensed lay workers need to be confirmed as a sign of their commitment to living as disciples of Christ as the Church of England understands it.

 

The texts of the Confirmation services are available on the Church of England website.

Common Worship