Confirmation classes

grahamg

grahamg

Old codger
Location
South of Manchester, UK
Not sure which section to raise this thread in, but I just wanted to query whether teenagers these days still go through "Confirmation classes" on the way to being confirmed as I did, thus becoming a full member of the Church of England, and could then receive "Holy communion"?
 

Forgive me being cynical, but do many teenagers even believe in such things these days? I certainly don't. My children have not been baptised and have never been to church (except the odd wedding). However as a former, and purely nominal Presbyterian, we would not have have rituals like confirmation.
 
Now you got me wondering ! I'm also wondering if you still need a blood test to get married. ( We had to go to the doc and have one before our marriage )
 

Blood test :confused:. I never heard of that one. I still very much doubt if many young people have any real belief and it's only their parents who coerce them. I wonder haw many atheists were confirmed as children before they started thinking for themselves? I'm not sure though what the C of E's view is on marrying couples who are not confirmed - but then if you don't go to church, there are now many suitable secular venues where you can get married.
I only got married in church because there was little choice. It was the kirk or the registry office and that was hardly romantic. That was 44 years ago and the last time I went there.
 
grahamg said:
Not sure which section to raise this thread in, but I just wanted to query whether teenagers these days still go through "Confirmation classes" on the way to being confirmed as I did, thus becoming a full member of the Church of England, and could then receive "Holy communion"?
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That's interesting. I was raised Roman Catholic. I received Communion the first time when I was seven, but I wasn't confirmed until I was ten. Confirmation only happened every few years when the bishop came. He did not, however have far to come since my parish was in Chicago. When he came he confirmed everyone who had already made their First Communion.

Would someone's being high church or low church make a difference?
 
Big Horn said:
That's interesting. I was raised Roman Catholic. I received Communion the first time when I was ten, but I wasn't confirmed until I was ten. Confirmation only happened every few years when the bishop came. He did not, however have far to come since my parish was in Chicago. When he came he confirmed everyone who had already made their First Communion.

Would someone's being high church or low church make a difference?
Click to expand...

I was raised Catholic also, had my first communion when I was 7 in Chicago, my confirmation at 10 but then we lived in Pittsburgh.

My oldest grandsons are raised Catholic but it seems they did their communion and confirmation at a later age than I did. Maybe things have changed.
 
St. Clotilde was Southside, 84th and Prairie. Surprisingly, it hung on in a changed neighborhood for more than fifty years. It's the only place where I've ever seen the school and church in the same building. The church was on the first floor, the school was on the two floors above it.
 
What you say rather confirms my suspicions for at 7 and 10 you are more inclined to do what your parents tell you instead of making your own rational choices. By the time I reached my teens I was sick of having religion stuffed down my throat by parents who couldn't construct a reasoned argument to save themselves. I was was rapidly embracing atheism.

I've had very little experience of the C of E except that my children went to a C of E school. My daughter said that the only religious element was once a year when the local vicar, Rev. Pincent (father of the Olympic gold medal rower, Matthew) dropped by to put the fear of God into them. Well, it didn't work!
 
I was raised Catholic, as well, and went to Parochial school grades 1-8, then I went to the only high school in our small town, which was a public high school, so a little bit of a change, for sure.

I can relate to the priests & some of the teaching nuns as trying to scare the life out of you and the stories I've heard from people older than me were even worse. I have an Aunt who is a nun, but she was one of the nice ones!:)

You all have good memories, I can't even remember the age I was when I first received communion, confirmation or even confession.
 
Big Horn said:
That's interesting. I was raised Roman Catholic. I received Communion the first time when I was seven, but I wasn't confirmed until I was ten. Confirmation only happened every few years when the bishop came. He did not, however have far to come since my parish was in Chicago. When he came he confirmed everyone who had already made their First Communion.

Would someone's being high church or low church make a difference?
Click to expand...

I taught in a Catholic high school for 25 years and learnt, along with the students, a lot of church history.

In the time of ancient Rome when Christians hid themselves in the catacombs to partake in the eucharist, they were very guarded about who was allowed to witness the rite. Letting in the wrong person could mean arrest and execution for all.

To be admitted you had to receive instruction for over a year then you would be baptised, receive first communion and be confirmed by the bishop all in one day.

Later the three sacraments were separated out but the order remained the same and is to this day - baptism, first communion then confirmation.

In the Church of England (Anglicanism), which is in most parts of the world still a catholic church although separated from Rome, confirmation is still the final seal on baptism and a necessary requirement for receiving communion and full church membership.

In non conformist denominations such as Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists etc confirmation is absent and baptism alone is the only requirement for church membership. In the Salvation Army even baptism has disappeared but if an adherent wishes to join the Army as a soldier or officer there are ceremonies for that where promises are made.

https://salvos.org.au/our-faith/find-a-church-near-you/officers-soldiers-and-adherents/
 
grahamg said:
Not sure which section to raise this thread in, but I just wanted to query whether teenagers these days still go through "Confirmation classes" on the way to being confirmed as I did, thus becoming a full member of the Church of England, and could then receive "Holy communion"?
Click to expand...

Warrigal said:
I taught in a Catholic high school for 25 years and learnt, along with the students, a lot of church history.

In the time of ancient Rome when Christians hid themselves in the catacombs to partake in the eucharist, they were very guarded about who was allowed to witness the rite. Letting in the wrong person could mean arrest and execution for all.

To be admitted you had to receive instruction for over a year then you would be baptised, receive first communion and be confirmed by the bishop all in one day.

Later the three sacraments were separated out but the order remained the same and is to this day - baptism, first communion then confirmation.

In the Church of England (Anglicanism), which is in most parts of the world still a catholic church although separated from Rome, confirmation is still the final seal on baptism and a necessary requirement for receiving communion and full church membership.

In non conformist denominations such as Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists etc confirmation is absent and baptism alone is the only requirement for church membership. In the Salvation Army even baptism has disappeared but if an adherent wishes to join the Army as a soldier or officer there are ceremonies for that where promises are made.

https://salvos.org.au/our-faith/find-a-church-near-you/officers-soldiers-and-adherents/
Click to expand...
That's how I've always understood it. However, this what the OP stated:

grahamg said:
Not sure which section to raise this thread in, but I just wanted to query whether teenagers these days still go through "Confirmation classes" on the way to being confirmed as I did, thus becoming a full member of the Church of England, and could then receive "Holy communion"?
Click to expand...
 
Big Horn said:
That's interesting. I was raised Roman Catholic. I received Communion the first time when I was seven, but I wasn't confirmed until I was ten. Confirmation only happened every few years when the bishop came. He did not, however have far to come since my parish was in Chicago. When he came he confirmed everyone who had already made their First Communion.

Would someone's being high church or low church make a difference?
Click to expand...

Yep 7 was the age of reason and 10 was when the bishop came. As far as High Church and Low Church, we never talked about that. There was high mass and low mass once upon a time , before the Ecumenical Council.

Per Wiki-
"The term "high church" refers to beliefs and practices of ecclesiology, liturgy, and theology, generally with an emphasis on formality and resistance to "modernisation." Although used in connection with various Christian traditions, the term originated in and has been principally associated with the Anglican/Episcopal tradition, where it describes Anglican churches using a number of ritual practices associated in the popular mind with Roman Catholicism.

The opposite is low church. Contemporary media discussing Anglican churches tend to prefer evangelical to "low church", and Anglo-Catholic to "high church", though the terms do not exactly correspond. Other contemporary denominations that contain high church wings include some Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches."

I'm not sure of details any further than that, but I feel sure high/low had nothing whatsoever to do with when we made our first communion or when we were confirmed.

BTW, do you remember taking "the pledge" not to drink alcohol until we were 21 at confirmation?
 
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I was brought up in the Protestant denomination. My Dad was brought up Catholic and it caused quite a stir in the family when he married my mom. They made it work. My Mom was very respectful of his religious upbringing and I suppose he was in agreement of raising me Protestant. I remember always having fish on Friday so he wouldn't feel uncomfortable eating meat. I went to the Evangelical Congregational Christian Church. I don't know to much about the history of the church except it originated in the New England states. I was baptized as a baby and when I entered the 8th grade every Tuesday after school we walked over to the church for conformation classes which I thought was terribly boring. On Palm Sunday we were confirmed and became a member of the church and took Communion. I don't go to church and feel closer to a higher being out in nature, by myself, where I can clear my head and be alone with my thoughts. I did send my kids to Sunday School. My son believes as I do and my daughter and family attend a nondenominational church in which they are very active. We go with them at Christmas but truth be told I don't get much out of it. I still remember the old time hymns we sang from long ago.
 
RadishRose said:
Yep 7 was the age of reason and 10 was when the bishop came. As far as High Church and Low Church, we never talked about that. There was high mass and low mass once upon a time , before the Ecumenical Council.

Per Wiki-
"The term "high church" refers to beliefs and practices of ecclesiology, liturgy, and theology, generally with an emphasis on formality and resistance to "modernisation." Although used in connection with various Christian traditions, the term originated in and has been principally associated with the Anglican/Episcopal tradition, where it describes Anglican churches using a number of ritual practices associated in the popular mind with Roman Catholicism.

The opposite is low church. Contemporary media discussing Anglican churches tend to prefer evangelical to "low church", and Anglo-Catholic to "high church", though the terms do not exactly correspond. Other contemporary denominations that contain high church wings include some Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches."

I'm not sure of details any further than that, but I feel sure high/low had nothing whatsoever to do with when we made our first communion or when we were confirmed.

BTW, do you remember taking "the pledge" not to drink alcohol until we were 21 at confirmation?
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You and I have apparently been looking up the same material. I first learned about high and low church through British detective novels.

There was never any discussion of not drinking before the age of twenty-one. That was considered to be up to the parents. My parents let me drink at an early age so it was never forbidden fruit. I've never been drunk and always consumed alcohol in moderation. There's no such thing as an Irish Catholic home without liquor. I hardly ever have a drink today.
 
Capt Lightning said:
Blood test :confused:. I never heard of that one. I still very much doubt if many young people have any real belief and it's only their parents who coerce them. I wonder haw many atheists were confirmed as children before they started thinking for themselves? I'm not sure though what the C of E's view is on marrying couples who are not confirmed - but then if you don't go to church, there are now many suitable secular venues where you can get married.
I only got married in church because there was little choice. It was the kirk or the registry office and that was hardly romantic. That was 44 years ago and the last time I went there.
Click to expand...

Both of our children grew up in the Methodist church and continued after they became adults. We never had any discussion as whether they "had" to go or not. It was their choice. My son and daughter-in-law go to our church, but only me daughter and her two boys go to our church. She married a catholic and he goes about once a month to his church. To us, it's just another Sunday and we get up and go to early church at 8:00 a.m. and we are out by 9:00. None of us go to Sunday School. My wife serves on the funeral committee that prepares food and such for any gatherings held at the church on behalf of the grieving family members of the deceased that want to hold a luncheon for those that attended the funeral.
 
oldman said:
Both of our children grew up in the Methodist church and continued after they became adults. We never had any discussion as whether they "had" to go or not. It was their choice. My son and daughter-in-law go to our church, but only me daughter and her two boys go to our church. She married a catholic and he goes about once a month to his church. To us, it's just another Sunday and we get up and go to early church at 8:00 a.m. and we are out by 9:00. None of us go to Sunday School. My wife serves on the funeral committee that prepares food and such for any gatherings held at the church on behalf of the grieving family members of the deceased that want to hold a luncheon for those that attended the funeral.
Click to expand...
Attendance at Sunday Mass was not an option in my family. My parents never said that, but they didn't need to because it was obvious. My late wife's family was more lenient, but we were married in the Church with a High Mass. On the other hand, we stayed married, something so few seem to do today.

I think that Catholics or even former Catholics need to marry other Catholics or former Catholics. They're the only ones who understand each other. I'm a pagan today; my gods are the gods of Ireland. However, culturally I'm still Catholic and always shall be. The Sisters of Mercy knew how to do it.
 

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