Confirmation is a service of commitment and commissioning.

Many Anglicans were baptised as infants; therefore they need an opportunity to make an adult profession of faith. This opportunity is provided in the rite of Confirmation. Candidates take responsibility for the baptismal promises made on their behalf by their parents and godparents.

This service is conducted by a bishop. Candidates who have been previously baptised come to the bishop and receive the laying on of hands, with prayer, that is, the bishop prays over each candidate with his or her hands on their heads. The candidates make a commitment to Christian service.

In the early Church all the baptisms were conducted by the bishop. As the church grew in size it became physically impossible for the bishop to baptize all the candidates, so that sacrament was entrusted to other clergy. To maintain the link with the baptismal candidates, the bishop would visit each parish in turn and confirm all those who had been baptised since his last visit. Although in the Middle Ages confirmation became connected with admission to Communion, it is now seen as a service of commitment and commissioning.

This service may be found in the New Zealand Prayer Book, on page 383. There you will see that it is connected to the Liturgy of Baptism.

Confirmation preparation is available on request for those who have been previously baptised, or for those who were previously confirmed but now wish to renew their Christian commitment. Confirmation is generally appropriate for those 16 and over. If you would like to know more about either of these options please talk to the clergy.