Confirmation is a special church service in which a person confirms the promises that were made when they were baptised.
The local bishop will lay their hands on the head of the person to be confirmed and ask God’s Holy Spirit to give them the strength and commitment to live God’s way for the rest of their life.
More general information about adult baptism and confirmation in the Church of England can be found on this website: Adult Baptism / Confirmation
Please speak to your local vicar or a member of your ministry team if you are interested in getting confirmed. There will be some preparation, giving you the opportunity to explore the Christian faith further.
Preparation for confirmation is an opportunity to explore questions that present themselves as we grow into adulthood or when we are adults: questions about life and faith as well as about the Bible the church and worship. Part of our ongoing development of faith, confirmation is the first adult milestone in responding to our baptism. Therefore, it makes sense for confirmands to be teenagers or older – there is absolutely no upper age limit!
Confirmation is generally linked to admission to Holy Communion. However, there is provision for admission to Holy Communion prior to confirmation for children who are younger, who are part of our church communities and who would like to receive Holy Communion with the support of their parents or guardians. Please see the Communion and Confirmation page on the Growing Younger pages of our website for details.
Booking a Confirmation Service
- Clergy, if you would like to book a confirmation service, please be in touch with the Bishop’s Office on bishoppa@elydiocese.org and we can arrange a time when Bishop Dagmar or an Honorary Assistant Bishop can come and take a service.
- We encourage you to plan ahead and get together with neighbouring churches for a joint confirmation service. Furthermore, you may like to bring your candidates to one of the three big Diocesan Confirmation Services taking place in Ely Cathedral every year, at Easter, around Pentecost and around Christ the King, just before Advent.
Confirmation Schedule 2025
Date |
Deanery/College |
Venue |
Time |
|---|---|---|---|
|
02-May |
Cambridge University (all) |
St Mary the Great Church, Cambridge |
8pm |
|
10-May |
Cambridge South Deanery |
St Bene't's Church, Cambridge |
4pm |
|
11-May |
Cambridge South Deanery |
St Mary the Less Church, Cambridge |
10.30am |
|
11-May |
Ecumenical Service |
Camborne Church, Camborne |
11am |
|
16-May |
St Ives Deanery |
St Mary's Church, Bluntisham |
7pm |
|
18-May |
St Johns College |
St John's College, Cambridge |
10.30am |
|
18-May |
Peterhouse College |
Peterhouse College, Cambridge |
6pm |
|
01-Jun |
Granta Deanery |
St Mary's Church, Sawston |
10am |
|
14-Jun |
Fordham & Quy Deanery |
St Vigor's Church, Fulbourn |
4pm |
|
15-Jun |
Ely Cathedral |
6.30pm |
|
|
29-Nov |
Ely Cathedral |
6.30pm |
Service Templates
- If you are preparing an order of service for a confirmation, please find below some user-friendly templates. Please submit your draft order of service to the Bishop well in advance of the service.
- A Service of Holy Communion with Baptism and Confirmation Template with Bishop Dagmar (August 2023) - click here
- A Service of Holy Communion and Confirmation Template with Bishop Dagmar (August 2023) - click here