Confirmation
For people who have been baptised as an infant, confirmation marks the point in your Christian journey at which you publicly affirm the faith into which you were baptised and your intention to live your life as a close follower of Jesus Christ.
At your confirmation, you confirm the promises your parents and godparents made on your behalf at your baptism about your commitment to a journey of faith in Jesus Christ. In confirming this faith, you are becoming a member of the local and worldwide Christian family.
In confirmation, we are recalling the promises made at baptism, we are thanking God for his gift of life and are 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.
Confirmation is available to people from the age of 11 years old upwards, who have been prepared and are considered ready.
There is confirmation preparation for young people and for adults. Adults are asked to attend an Alpha course and two confirmation preparation evenings.
In the Church of England, it is the Bishop who confirms people and special confirmation services are held. Over the years, St. Mary’s and St. John’s have participated in either the annual Easter confirmation service at the Cathedral in Guildford or the annual November confirmation service, held locally, alternately either at St Mary’s, Walton-on-Thames or St Peter’s, Hersham.