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People who have been baptised may be confirmed provided they are old enough
to renew for themselves the promises made for them at their baptism by their
parents and godparents. At St Barnabas, because we admit children from the
age of seven to communion, we normally would expect candidates for confirmation
to be 14 or over, and most of our recent candidates have been adults who
have wanted to make this next important step on their faith journeys.
Confirmation is a public acknowledgement by each candidate that they accept
full implications of what a Christian life entails. It is a mature step
which requires of each candidate that they approach their faith with honesty
and their relationship with God with great seriousness as well as joy.
St Barnabas offers a yearly annual preparation course leading towards confirmation. This is organised jointly with the church of St Paul's, Wimbledon Park. Confirmation takes place once a year in the Deanery of Wandsworth, usually in June. The service is normally taken either by the Bishop of Southwark or the Area Bishop of Kingston.
The bishop uses the opportunity of the sermon to talk to the candidates about the responsibilities of adult Christian life and they will then make their public profession of faith. Any unbaptised candidates are baptised and the bishop prays that the Holy Spirit will come upon those who are to be confirmed. They kneel before the bishop, who lays his hands on the head of each, saying:
Confirm, O Lord, your servant with your Holy Spirit.
Or he might use this longer prayer:
Defend, O Lord, this thy servant with thy heavenly grace, that (s)he may continue thine for ever, and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until (s)he comes unto thine everlasting kingdom.
If the bishop uses the shorter prayer, a version of the longer one is said by the whole congregation.
The service continues with a celebration of the Holy Communion, where the newly-confirmed join in receiving the sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ.
If you would like to discuss the possibility of joining the next course of preparation for confirmation, please contact the vicar who will be able to advise.
St Barnabas offers a yearly annual preparation course leading towards confirmation. This is organised jointly with the church of St Paul's, Wimbledon Park. Confirmation takes place once a year in the Deanery of Wandsworth, usually in June. The service is normally taken either by the Bishop of Southwark or the Area Bishop of Kingston.
The bishop uses the opportunity of the sermon to talk to the candidates about the responsibilities of adult Christian life and they will then make their public profession of faith. Any unbaptised candidates are baptised and the bishop prays that the Holy Spirit will come upon those who are to be confirmed. They kneel before the bishop, who lays his hands on the head of each, saying:
Confirm, O Lord, your servant with your Holy Spirit.
Or he might use this longer prayer:
Defend, O Lord, this thy servant with thy heavenly grace, that (s)he may continue thine for ever, and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until (s)he comes unto thine everlasting kingdom.
If the bishop uses the shorter prayer, a version of the longer one is said by the whole congregation.
The service continues with a celebration of the Holy Communion, where the newly-confirmed join in receiving the sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ.
If you would like to discuss the possibility of joining the next course of preparation for confirmation, please contact the vicar who will be able to advise.