The West Dartmoor Benefice covers the parishes of Meavy, Princetown, Sheepstor, Yelverton and Walkhampton.
Who can be confirmed?
Anyone may be confirmed who has been baptised. When someone is bpatised as a baby the parents and godparents made promises for the children that they will follow Christ until the child is old enough to take the promises on themselves. In the Church of England it has been traditional for people to be confirmed in their early teens, but there is no set age for confirmation. It is a public declaration that the person is a follower of Christ and is committed to serving him for the rest of their life.
In the Confirmation service the church prays for the person and the Bishop prays and lays hands on them so that they will be strengthened with the Holy Spirit. The strengthening with the Holy Spirit is so that they can serve Christ in a godly way and remain faithful to him.
Preparation for confirmation
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.
Where does confirmation take place?
A Bishop conducts the Confirmation Service. These normally happen about once a year somewhere in the local area as the Bishop likes to visit different churches each year to take the service.
Confirmation and Holy Communion
In the Church of England those who receive Holy Communion should either have been confirmed in the Church of England or should be ready and desire to be confirmed.
Confirmation and holding office in the Church of England
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
Click here for the text of the Confirmation services in Common Worship
For more details and further information contact the Rector (01822 854653 or email nick.shutt@dsl.pipex.com).
