On Saturday 19th November 2011 six members of the St Mary and All Saints Willingham Church congregation attended Ely Cathedral to be confirmed.
On the photograph from left to right: Mick and Jan Taylor, Caroline Hay, Hannah and Rachel Walls, Gemma Anderson with our sponsor Reverend Linda Liversidge at the back.
We had to be there for 4.30pm for rehearsal as there were 58 people being confirmed and 3 baptisms so there was quite a lot to get through! It was such a sensible idea as no one would have known where to stand or what to say. After the rehearsal we had a much welcomed tea break and an opportunity to meet up with family and friends before the service, which started at 6.30pm.
In the middle of Ely Cathedral is a section called the Crossing which contained a temporary dais and altar where the service was led. The candidates sat in front of the dais, whilst family and friends sat further down the Nave to watch as the proceedings unfolded.
Both of our Diocesan Bishops were present: The Bishop of Ely, the Rt Revd Stephen Conway led the service and the Suffragan Bishop of Huntingdon, the Rt Revd Dr David Thomson gave the address.
The first half of the service we sat at the front for prayers, sermons and singing and then all those being confirmed and baptised were asked to come and form a semi circle around the dais. This section of the service was referred to us the ‘Presentation of the Candidates’ and we were asked en masse a few questions about either wishing to be baptised for those who were about to be and for the rest of us whether we had been baptised. The next set of questions was referred to as the ‘Decision’, where we were asked to reject sin and turn to Christ.
After this we all walked down the Nave towards the west door, with the rest of the congregation bringing up the rear, to the font where the baptisms took place. The two Bishops then dipped Rosemary sprigs into the water and started spraying the crowd with water of Baptism - they seemed to have a lot of fun whilst reminding people of the importance of their faith.
Once the baptisms were completed we returned to the dais where the confirmations would take place. It is unusual for two Bishops to confirm in unison but with 58 candidates it was certainly a more efficient way of doing things with two candidates being able to go up at one time. Each Bishop took it in turn to say the candidates name followed by ‘God has called you by name and made you his own.’ Then the Bishops laid their hands on the head of the candidate and said together, ‘Confirm, O Lord your servant with you Holy Spirit. Amen’.
After the Prayers of Intercession the newly baptised where welcomed by the congregation and then the Bishop introduced the Peace, enabling everyone to greet their fellow worshippers. Following this we were then invited to take our first Holy Communion. Once the candidates had received the Communion the congregation were welcomed forward to receive theirs or a blessing, whatever was appropriate.
At the end of the service all the candidates were given a lighted candle and we walked down the Nave, this time to go outside on to the pavement to show that we had received the light of Christ.
This really important occasion was very special to us all.
For many years Joyce Bowen has run the Parish Church monthly cake stall. Her considerable hard work, including baking her own cakes, has contributed to the social events of the village as well as generating about £1000 per year towards the church restoration fund.
