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First communion
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At St Barnabas, we admit children over the age of seven to communion before
confirmation, after attending our course of preparation, which
usually starts around February or March each year. The service of admission to
communion normally takes place in early June.
In order to be able to join the course, the children need to fulfil the
following criteria and be given the following support:
If you think your child would like to be admitted to communion after our
next preparation course, or if you would like to discuss this further, please
contact the vicar.
Proof of baptism must be provided, or baptism take place before the time of
admission.
Normally, those being admitted should have been regular
in their attendance at church for at least one year before admission.
Children who are of age must be allowed to choose for themselves whether or
not they receive communion. They should be asked if they want to be
prepared before the preparation begins and asked again before the admission
service if this is what they really want.
Whether the children belong to church-attending families or not, their
parents or guardians have to be informed and made aware of what admission to
communion entails and be fully accepting of its implications. As part of
the preparation, there is an evening meeting which all parents/guardians of
candidates are asked to attend.
Children, except those with special needs, should be able to say the Lord's
Prayer.