Confirmations and Adult Baptisms

Confirmation is the principal way of joining the wider membership of the Anglican Church. This a special service held once a year at a church in the local Central Croydon Deanery, when you publicly affirm your faith and the Bishop lays hands on you and asks God to strength you in your faith by the power of the Holy Spirit. This then entitles you to participate in Holy Communion. Annual classes are provided for both young people and adults considering Confirmation.

If you would like to be Confirmed, please contact the Vicar.

Adult Baptism is always available for young people and adults who have not been baptised as infants. Adults are encouraged first to attend a baptism seminar or to attend an Alpha course (see below under 'Alpha'), in order to deepen their understanding of the Christian faith.

Baptism is the way of formally and publically declaring that you are a Christian. The early church was instructed in this practise by Jesus Christ (see Matthew 28.19), who was himself baptised by John the Baptist. This is the accepted way, therefore, of joining the wider Christian family. Baptism involves being fully immersed in water or having water poured over your head, in order to symbolise a new start in life. There is an annual service at St. Mary's, when a Baptismal Pool is set up in church and full immersion baptisms are conducted. Some may alternatively choose to be baptised at the font, often in conjunction with the service of Confirmation.

Click here for a taster of Baptisms at St. Marys.

If you would like to be Baptised, please contact the Vicar.

Affirmation of Baptism is an opportunity for young people and adults to acknowledge their faith by reaffirming their baptismal vows publically and by being fully-immersed under water. This is normally conducted in conjunction with the full-immersion baptisms at an annual service at St. Mary's, when a Baptismal Pool is set up in church. Adults are encouraged first to attend a baptism seminar or to attend an Alpha course (see below under 'Alpha'), in order to deepen their understanding of the Christian faith.

This service is principally designed for those who were baptised as infants, when promises were made on their own behalf, and who now wish to make their baptismal vows personally and to be fully immersed in the water, as Jesus was. Or perhaps this is a significant moment in your journey of faith that you would like to mark in this meaningful way.

If you would like to Affirm your Baptism by full-immersion, please contact the Vicar.