Our joint service for Confirmation Sunday is fast approaching. I can’t wait to see you there.

Do you remember your confirmation? I remember mine. I was 21 and had just begun my postgraduate studies. For the preparation course, we spent three months meeting in the Vicar’s dining room doing Alpha (which you can sign up for now!) and then we read Rowan William’s Tokens of Trust for deeper reflection on the sacraments.

In those days, confirmation was the door to Communion – which caused some issues. As Communion was also open to those of other denominations, it was easier to receive in an Anglican church if you weren’t an Anglican. Having converted from the Free Church, I fasted from Communion for a short while before my confirmation.

Things are now different.

For a decade we have admitted the baptised to Communion before confirmation. There is no ‘standard’ practice among different churches as how best to do confirmation. In the Orthodox Churches confirmation is given as ‘chrismation’ at baptism by the local priest. In the Catholic Church, depending on the diocese, it may come before first communion, and may be delegated to the local priest.

Our custom is to present to the bishop for confirmation baptised people who wish to take a further step of commitment, It is an opportunity for them:

·      to confirm all the promises made in baptism.

·      to receive prayer for the strengthening power of the Holy Spirit.

·      to receive the ministry of the Bishop, who fulfils a uniquely apostolic role.

·      to align ourselves publicly with our Anglican heritage.

Do come along. Come to encourage our ‘confirmands’, come to remember your own confirmation, come to recommit yourself to and the promises you made.