Confirmation is a sacrament practiced by several Christian denominations symbolizing the confirmation of faith within the church. It is often seen as a "rite of initiation" or "coming of age" since confirmation occurs when a member is a teenager.[1] Confirmation practices, including age of reception and specific rites, can vary significantly even within these denominations based on regional, national, or even local church practices. The following denominations practice the confirmation sacrament:
- Roman Catholic church: One of seven sacraments practices in the church, it can only be received following the sacrament of First Holy Communion, typically around the age of 13, and is administered by a bishop or priest.
- Eastern Orthodox church: Confirmation is known as Chrismation in the Eastern Orthodox tradition and directly follows baptism and is considered a part of the same sacramental process. Chrismation is usually performed by a priest and can be administered to infants immediately after baptism, which occurs after the child is 6 months in age, unless the person joins the church as an adult.
- Anglican and Episcopal churches: The confirmation process is similar to that in the Roman Catholic church and is an affirmation of faith made by older children or adults.
- Lutheran churches: Confirmation is a public profession of faith but is not considered a sacrament but a rite of passage. Practices can vary among the different Lutheran churches.
- Methodist churches: Adolescents who were baptized as infants, are confirmed into the faith; it is a significant step marked by a service where baptismal vows are reaffirmed.
- Reformed churches: Confirmation in certain Reformed denominations is known as a "profession of faith," with individuals baptized in the church as children make a public declaration of faith.
Confirmation record information
Confirmation records serve as a significant resource for genealogists researching an ancestor's family, religion as well as connections to a community. Usually these records will not include birth information or age, but will include the date of confirmation, the name of the church and denomination, the location, as well as the names of sponsors or witnesses.
Information useful for genealogy research include:
- Personal details about ancestors including such as names, ages, and dates of confirmation.
- Relationships and connections to other family members including names of parents or sponsors.
- Information on religious and denominational affiliation
Here are ways clues found in confirmation records can be used for further genealogy research:
- Connect children to their parents
- Establish a residence based on church parish
- Fill in gaps between census years
- Highlight naming issues: in some cultures, a person started to use their name selected at confirmation instead of their birth name
- Research F.A.N. Club clues using sponsor or witness names
Locating confirmation records
Confirmation records can be found online as well as by visiting archives and repositories in person.
- Online databases and genealogy websites: many of the major genealogy websites, including MyHeritage, offer several databases with church records including confirmation records. Most religious denominations do not offer online access to records including confirmation records; however, they may have licensed access to records via major genealogy websites.
- Church and denominational archives: access to church and denominational records is not consistent and depends upon both the church and denomination. The best approach is to call or write to the church where an ancestor worshipped and ask for information on access to confirmation records. Some denominations maintain regional and national archives and libraries and may require a visit to those repositories in order to access records. Again, always call before making a visit to understand hours of operation, fees, and any possible restrictions to records.
References
- ↑ BELIEF & PRACTICE:Confirmation Glossary | Episcopal Church