THE ORDER OF CONFIRMATION IN USE IN THE DIOCESE OF SALISBURY. SALISBURY: BROWN & CO. M. DCCC. LXI. The Order of Confirmation, OR LAYING ON OF HANDS UPON THOSE THAT ARE BAPTIZED AND COME TO YEARS OF DISCRETION. The Confirmation Service is used after Morning or Evening Prayer, or on Sunday Mornings, &c., &c., after the Nicene Creed. The Candidates having been placed in the front seats of the Nave of the Church, the female Candidates on the one side and the male Candidates on the other, or, if this is not convenient, the female Candidates in front and the male Candidates behind them, and all standing, the Bishop begins the Service with an Address. After the Address the Preface is read by the Bishop's Chaplain. The Bishop then goes to the Chancel step, and from thence puts the appointed question, and the answer having been given and the suffrages said, he kneels in the same place and says the first Collect. The Veni Creator is then sometimes sung, the Candidates kneeling. The Bishop then returns to the Holy Table, and the female Candidates of each separate Parish are presented by their Clergy for the laying on of hands; the Clergyman who presents them kneeling in the centre of them. Whilst those who have been confirmed are returning to their seats, and others are coming up to be confirmed, a Voluntary is generally played. When all the female Candidates are Confirmed, the males are presented in the same order and Confirmed. Then a Hymn may be sung. The Bishop afterwards makes his second Address, returns to the Holy Table and there concludes the Service. Upon the day appointed, all that are to be then Confirmed, being placed, and standing in order before the Bishop; he (or some other Minister appointed by him) shall read this Preface following: |