From the Book of Common Prayer, page 298

"Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble. Holy Baptism is appropriately administered within the Eucharist as the chief service on a Sunday or other feast.

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"Each candidate for Holy Baptism is to be sponsored by one or more baptized persons.

"Sponsors of adults and older children present their candidates and thereby signify their endorsement of the candidates and their intention to support them by prayer and example in their Christian life. Sponsors of infants, commonly called godparents, present their candidates, make promises in their own names, and also take vows on behalf of their candidates.

"It is fitting that parents be included among the godparents of their own children. Parents and godparents are to be instructed in the meaning of Baptism, in their duties to help the new Christians grow in the knowledge and love of God, and in their responsibilities as members of his Church."

At St Peter’s we strive to keep the traditional days of Baptism: Easter Sunday, The Feast of Pentecost (fifty days after Easter), All Saints Sunday (the Sunday on or after November 1) and the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord (the first Sunday after January 6). In addition to these days, special arrangements can be made for Baptisms on Sundays during the “white seasons” of the Church, namely the seasons of Christmas, (December 25-January 6), and the season of Easter (the fifty days following Easter Sunday). Baptisms on other Sundays and so-called Private Baptisms are strongly discouraged except for pastoral emergencies.

It is expected that all candidates for Baptism, or their parents should they be infants or small children, be prepared for Baptism by a member of the clergy. The best process for that is our Newcomers’ and Inquirers’ classes, a four-week introduction to the faith, the Episcopal Church and St Peter’s. These classes are generally offered twice a year.

Confirmation From the Book of Common Prayer, page 412

"In the course of their Christian development, those baptized at an early age are expected, when they are ready and have been duly prepared, to make a mature public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their Baptism and to receive the laying on of hands by the bishop.

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"Those baptized as adults, unless baptized with laying on of hands by a bishop, are also expected to make a public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their Baptism in the presence of a bishop and to receive the laying on of hands."

Our Prayer Book does not set an age for when Confirmation should be experienced. The primary concern named above is that the candidate be able and ready to “make a mature public affirmation of their faith.” This is necessarily a free act and should be taken with great care.

Adolescent Confirmation has a long history in the Episcopal Church but is not necessarily the norm at St Peter’s. Adults as well as younger members have been confirmed. Age is not a prerequisite but a voluntary, studied and faithful ability to speak the vows of the covenant of Baptism is.

Confirmation preparation is expected and is planned and scheduled prior to a visit of our Bishop or our Assistant Bishops. The preparation generally includes an extended exploration of the Baptismal Covenant, the history and beliefs of the Episcopal Church and the importance and impact of the rite of Confirmation.