In response to the various questions which are often asked by people seeking to be confirmed, we have tried to provide suitable answers. Please feel free to talk with the Vicar if you have other questions, or would like to receive more information.
Q. What is the right age for confirmation?
A. 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.
Q. How can I tell if I am ready for confirmation?
A. 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 do so also. The vicar
will invite you to participate in the confirmation course to explore your faith further as
you think about it.
Q. Can I receive communion without being confirmed?
A. Confirmation is about so much more than receiving the bread and wine. Anyone who
is preparing for confirmation can receive communion as part of that preparation.
Obviously, those who have been admitted to Communion prior to Confirmation will
come to confirmation having been participating in Holy Communion for some time,
while others will receive their first Communion after Confirmation.
Q. I was baptized as a child, why do I need to be confirmed?
A. 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.
Q. I’m not a regular churchgoer. Can I still be confirmed?
A. Confirmation is about becoming a committed member of the local and worldwide
Christian family. Confirmation, therefore, only makes sense if you are prepared
to make this commitment and play an active part within the Church.
Q. What happens after confirmation?
A. If you were prepared for confirmation with other candidates, your group may wish to
continue journeying in faith together after Confirmation.
You might also consider attending the next ‘Emmaus Discipleship Course’.
Please ask the vicar for further information.
Q. What if I wasn’t baptized as a child?
A. 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.
Q. What does it cost?
A. A confirmation service is completely free, though there may be a small charge for a
formal certificate. Ask the Vicar for further information.
Q. What happens during confirmation classes?
A. 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 focuses less on learning by rote and more on enabling people to live a life
of committed Christian discipleship in a world of multimedia and globalised culture.
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.
Q. Can I be baptized or confirmed again?
A. No. You can only be baptized or confirmed once within the Church of England, but
there are ways of renewing your Christian commitment publicly as an adult.
Part of the material contained within this page is copyright © 2011 Archbishops’ Council
