Confirmation usually takes place after a person has explored his or her faith with others in the church.
Most churches offer confirmation preparation where key aspects of the Christian faith can be explored, and details of the confirmation service and the statements and promises a person makes are discussed.
This will include helping you to play a fuller part in the church and identifying points that will help you to grow as a Christian. The confirmation service also requires the congregation to make promises to support the confirmation candidate in his or her faith journey.
Confirmation is an important milestone, and the Confirmation services across the Diocese in the coming year provide an exciting opportunity to hear what God is doing in the lives of individuals and to see how he is building up our communities.
Upcoming Confirmation Dates 2023
There will be two Diocesan Services of Confirmation at Winchester Cathedral this year. These will take place on the eve of Pentecost and the eve of the feast of Christ the King:
Sat 27th May 2023 at 5.30pm
Sat 25th Nov 2023 at 5.30pm
These services are open to people from across the Diocese who have been prepared by local clergy. There will also be Services of Confirmation taking place in parish churches during the year. If you know of people interested in Confirmation, please ask them to speak to any member of clergy to explore this. For the Cathedral services, local clergy are asked to be in touch with Lucy Hole at the Cathedral, and for arranging services in parish churches with Sue Pakenham-Walsh, the PA to the Bishop of Basingstoke, or Rhiannon Balme, the PA to the Bishop of Southampton
Further Parish Dates 2023
Sunday 2 April, Pennington, 10am
Sunday 8 April, Easter Vigil and confirmation at St Francis of Assisi, +Geoff presiding – 7pm
Sunday 23 April, Hyde (AVC), 4pm
Sunday 11 June, St Mark’s, Southampton, 6.30pm
Sunday 11 June, Eversley, 10am
Sunday 11 June, St Mary Bourne, 5pm
Sunday 25 June, Oakley, 10am
Sunday 30 July, All Saints’ and St Peter’s, Maybush, 4pm
Sunday 17 September, Odiham Deanery (tbc)
Sunday 24 September, Swaythling, 10am
Sunday 8 October, Tadley, 10.30am
Sunday 8 October, Christ Church Winchester, 7pm
Sunday 29 October, St Christopher’s, Bournemouth, 10am
Sunday 15 October, St John’s, Moordown, 4pm
Sunday 26 November, Whitchurch Deanery, 10.30am
Please give generously to the World Church through your Confirmation…
The World Mission Group (WMG) is responsible to the Diocese of Winchester for the welfare and interests of our various Diocesan Companion Links. Members of the group are representatives of all the Deaneries, some with a particular focus on an overseas church through friendships, visits and prayer. The Anglican Companion Links in this diocese are: Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Myanmar (Burma).
Funding for this work is primarily raised from a Bishop’s visit to your parish for a Confirmation service.
The WMG is able to award Grants to our ‘companions’ for theological, educational, and specialised training. Some study is undertaken in the UK but the majority is done in people’s home dioceses or province.
Parishes are encouraged to contribute half of their offering at a Confirmation service to OCP, and the other half to a mission agency or initiative of their own choice. Your donation is very much appreciated; it will enable important training for leadership to continue and flourish for our sisters and brothers in Christ in these parts of the World Church.
Cheques should be made payable to WDBF and sent to the finance team at the Diocesan Office or electronically to 55-81-26 account 00342564 with a covering email.