Confirmation 2026 

What is Confirmation? Is it for me?

Confirmation is a special church service where you get to say for yourself that you believe in Jesus and want to follow him.
During the service, the Bishop will pray for you and place his hands on your head, asking God’s Holy Spirit to help you stay strong in your faith as you grow up and throughout your life.

Bishop Jonathan, the Bishop of Rochester, will be leading a Confirmation service for churches in our area on Sunday 1 November at 4pm at St John’s Church, Eden Park.

If you were baptised when you were a baby or a young child, Confirmation gives you the chance to make your own decision about following Jesus. When you were baptised, your parents, godparents and church family made promises for you. At Confirmation, you get to make those promises for yourself.
You do not need to know everything about Christianity or have all the answers before being confirmed. Confirmation is one important step on your journey with Jesus, a milestone that you can look back on in the future.

I haven’t been baptised. Can I still be confirmed?

Yes!
If you have not been baptised yet, you will need to be baptised before or during the Confirmation service.
You can be baptised at church before the Confirmation service, either:

• By having water sprinkled on your head from the font, or
• By being fully immersed in the baptism pool.

You can also be baptised by the Bishop during the Confirmation service itself.
In the Church of England, people of any age can be baptised, from babies to older adults. For teenagers and adults, baptism and Confirmation are often linked together.
 

I already come to church, read my Bible and pray. What difference will baptism and Confirmation make?

One of the biggest changes is that you will be able to receive Holy Communion.
Instead of coming forward for a blessing, you will be able to receive the bread, or the bread and wine, along with the rest of the church family. This is because you have publicly declared your faith in Jesus and your desire to follow him.
 

What should I do next?

If you are interested in baptism or Confirmation and you are under 18, the first step is to talk with your parents.
After that, come and speak to Jessica and let her know you're interested. If you are over 18, you can talk to Jessica directly.

Before the Confirmation service, there will be a short preparation course.

This is a chance to:

• Learn more about who Jesus is.
• Explore what it means to follow him.
• Find out what happens during Confirmation and Holy Communion.
• Ask questions in a relaxed and friendly setting.
• Build habits that will help you grow in your faith.

And don't worry if you're still unsure!

If you're curious about baptism or Confirmation, you're very welcome to join the preparation course and decide later whether it's the right step for you. There is no pressure. Come along, ask questions, and see where God might be leading you.