Anglican / Episcopal Confirmation as the Candidate

Local variation

Anglican and Episcopal Confirmation is a mature affirmation of baptismal vows in the presence of the bishop. The specifics on this page describe typical TEC and ACNA practice; the priest or rector at the parish is the right source for the local programme.

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The 1979 BCP positions Confirmation as the candidate's mature commitment to Christ and the reception of strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop. Persons baptized as infants are typically confirmed in adolescence (commonly age 13-16); adult converts to Anglicanism from other Christian traditions are normally received via Confirmation (if not previously confirmed by a bishop in apostolic succession) or via the rite of Reception.

The priest or rector at the parish can confirm:

The age at which the parish confirms
The catechetical preparation programme (typically weekly classes over a semester or year)
Whether a retreat is part of the preparation
The sponsor selection process
The Confirmation service date

This page draws partly on secondary summaries of the 2019 ACNA BCP.

01 What Anglican Confirmation is

The 1979 BCP Catechism describes Confirmation as "the rite in which we express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop" (BCP 1979, p. 860). This is distinct from the pre-1979 Anglican framing, where Confirmation was the prerequisite for receiving Communion. The 2019 ACNA BCP retains a similar framing.

The candidate is normally a person baptized as an infant who has reached an age of mature commitment (commonly age 13-16). Adult converts to Anglicanism from other Christian traditions are normally received via Confirmation (if they have not been previously confirmed by a bishop in apostolic succession) or via the rite of Reception.

02 Catechetical preparation

The Confirmation preparation programme is typically a series of weekly classes over a semester or a full year, covering the Anglican Catechism (BCP 1979, pp. 845-862), the sacraments, the BCP itself, and the Christian life. The format varies by parish; a retreat is common but not required.

The candidate typically chooses a Confirmation sponsor during the preparation: often the original baptismal godparent, or a chosen mentor. Anglican practice does not impose canonical requirements on the sponsor analogous to Catholic practice; the sponsor is expected to be a baptized Christian who can serve as an ongoing example of faith.

03 The Confirmation service

The Confirmation service is celebrated within a parish Eucharist with the bishop presiding. The bishop typically visits the parish for Confirmation; in some dioceses, the parish brings its confirmands to the diocesan cathedral. The service follows the BCP, with the candidates renewing their baptismal vows and each coming forward to receive the laying on of hands.

The bishop lays hands on the candidate (and, in many parishes, anoints them with oil) saying "Strengthen, O Lord, your servant N. with your Holy Spirit; empower him for your service; and sustain him all the days of his life." The candidate responds "Amen." The Eucharist follows; most TEC and many ACNA parishes practice open communion.

The full service typically lasts 90 minutes for a moderate class.

04 Common questions

At what age is Anglican Confirmation?

Practice varies by parish. Persons baptized as infants are typically confirmed in adolescence (commonly age 13-16); some parishes confirm earlier (around age 11-13) following catechetical preparation. The priest is the source.

What does the preparation cover?

Typically a series of weekly classes covering Anglican beliefs, the BCP Catechism, the sacraments, the prayer book itself, and the Christian life. A retreat is common but not required. The parish is the source for the specific curriculum.

Does the candidate choose a sponsor?

Yes. The Confirmation sponsor is typically the original baptismal godparent (where possible) or a chosen mentor: a baptized Christian who can serve as an ongoing example of faith. Anglican practice does not require the sponsor to have been confirmed in the same way Catholic practice does.

What happens at the rite?

The Confirmation service is celebrated within a parish Eucharist with the bishop presiding. The candidates renew their baptismal vows; each comes forward; the bishop lays hands on the candidate (and, in many parishes, anoints them with oil) saying "Strengthen, O Lord, your servant N. with your Holy Spirit; empower him for your service; and sustain him all the days of his life." The candidate responds "Amen."

05 Pastoral note

Last reviewed against primary sources: May 17, 2026