Church of England Proposed Prayer Book: Alternative Order of Confirmation (1928)

Title and Preface

AN ALTERNATIVE

ORDER OF CONFIRMATION,

OR LAYING ON OF HANDS, UPON THOSE, THAT ARE BAPTIZED, AND COME TO YEARS OF DISCRETION.

¶ To the end that Confirmation may be ministered to the more edifying of such as shall receive it, the Church hath thought good to order, That none hereafter shall be confirmed, but such as can say the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Ten Commandments; and can also answer to such other questions, as in the short Catechism are contained: which order is very convenient to be observed; to the end, that children, being now come to the years of discretion, and having learned what their Godfathers and Godmothers promised for them in Baptism, they may themselves. with their own mouth and consent, openly before the Church, ratify and confess the same; and also promise, that by the grace of God they will evermore endeavour themselves faithfully to observe such things, as they, by their own confession, have assented unto.

¶ So soon as children are come to a competent age, and can say, in their Mother tongue, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Ten Commandments; and can also answer to such other questions as in the short Catechism are contained, they shall be brought to the Bishop.

¶ The Minister shall from time to time make diligent enquiry whether there be any in his parish who, having been baptized, were not confirmed in their youth; and, if he find any such, and think them meet to be con firmed, he shall earnestly move them to prepare themselves to seek God’s grace in Confirmation.

¶ And whensoever the Bishop shall give knowledge for children or others to be brought unto him for their Confirmation, the Curate of every parish shall either bring, or send in writing with his hand subscribed thereto, the names and ages of all such persons within his parish as he shall think fit to be presented to the Bishop to be confirmed. And if the Bishop approve of them, he shall confirm them in the manner following.

¶ It is convenient that every one shall have a godfather or a godmother as a witness of their Confirmation.

¶ Upon the time appointed, all that are then to be confirmed, being placed, and standing in order, before the Bishop; he (or some other Minister appointed by him) shall read this Preface following, unless he shall otherwise determine.

DEARLY beloved in the Lord, in ministering Confirmation the Church doth follow the example of the Apostles of Christ. For in the eighth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles we thus read:—

They therefore that were scattered abroad went about preaching the word. And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ. When they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: for as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

The scripture here teacheth us that a special gift of the Holy Spirit is bestowed through laying on of hands with prayer. And forasmuch as this gift cometh from God alone, let us that are here present pray to Almighty God, that he will strengthen with his Holy Spirit in Confirmation those who in Baptism were made his children.

You, then, who are to be confirmed must now declare before this congregation that you are stedfastly purposed, with the help of this gift, to lead your life in the faith of Christ and in obedience to God’s will and commandments; and must openly acknowledge yourselves bound to fulfil the Christian duties to which your Baptism hath pledged you.

Renewal of Baptismal Vows

THE RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL VOWS.

¶ Then shall the Bishop say,

DO ye here, in the presence of God, and of this congregation, renew the solemn promise and vow that was made in your name at your Baptism; ratifying and confessing the same in your own persons, and acknowledging yourselves bound to believe, and to do, all those things, which your Godfathers and Godmothers then undertook for you?

And every one shall audibly answer, I do.

Or else the Bishop shall say,

DO ye here, in the presence of God, and of this congregation, renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanity of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh, so that ye will not follow nor be led by them?

Answer. I do.

DO ye believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith as contained in the Apostles’ Creed ?

Answer. I do.

DO* ye endeavour to keep God’s holy will and commandments, and to walk in the same all the days of your life?

Answer. I will.

THE CONFIRMATION.

¶ Then shall the Bishop begin the Confirmation; and no hymn or address shall be introduced into this part of the Service, except that a hymn may be sung, if needed, in the course of the laying on of hands.

Versicles

The Bishop. Our help is in the name of the Lord;

Answer. Who hath made heaven and earth.

The Bishop. Blessed be the name of the Lord;

Answer. Henceforth, world without end.

The Bishop. Lord, hear our prayers;

Answer. And let our cry come unto thee.

The Bishop. Let us pray.

The Prayer for the Sevenfold Spirit

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, who hast vouchsafed to regenerate these thy servants by Water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given unto them forgiveness of all their sins; strengthen them, we beseech thee, O Lord, with the Holy Ghost the Comforter, and daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace; the spirit of wisdom and understanding; the spirit of counsel and ghostly strength; the spirit of knowledge and true godliness; and fill them, O Lord, with the spirit of thy holy fear, now and for ever. Amen.

The Laying on of Hands

Then immediately all of them in order, kneeling before the Bishop, he shall lay his hand upon the head of every one severally, saying,

DEFEND, O Lord, this thy child [or this thy servant] with thy heavenly grace, that he may continue thine for ever; and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until he come unto thy everlasting kingdom. Amen.

¶ Then shall the Bishop say,

The Lord's Prayer and Collects

The Lord be with you;

Answer. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

OUR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done; In earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil; For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

Then shall the Bishop add these prayers.

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, who makest us both to will and to do those things that be good and acceptable unto thy divine Majesty; We make our humble supplications unto thee for these thy servants, upon whom (after the example of thy holy apostles) we have now laid our hands, to certify them (by this sign) of thy favour and gracious goodness towards them. Let thy fatherly hand, we beseech thee, ever be over them; let thy Holy Spirit ever be with them; and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of thy word, that in the end they may obtain everlasting life; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

¶ THE CONCLUSION.

ALMIGHTY Lord, and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern, both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments; that, through thy most mighty protection both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Blessing

¶ Then the Bishop shall bless them, saying thus,

GO forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; render to no man evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honour all men; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. And the Blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be upon you, and remain with you for ever. Amen.

Final Rubrics

¶ And there shall none be admitted to the Holy Communion, until such time as he be confirmed, or be found in the judgement of the Bishop to be ready and desirous to be confirmed.